According to Trump, Iranian officials are participating in peace negotiations with the American side, but refuse to acknowledge it due to concerns for their safety.
Trump added: "They are indeed negotiating and seeking an agreement, but they are afraid to speak openly about it, believing that their compatriots might kill them. They are also worried that we might take action against them." In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that there are no official negotiations with the U.S., and messages are being conveyed through intermediaries.
However, the exchange of messages through intermediaries should not be interpreted as conducting negotiations.
At the same time, Israeli sources report that Trump may announce a ceasefire in Iran as early as this coming Saturday, as reported by Channel 12 of Israel.
In Israel, it is believed that such a statement could be made even in the absence of final agreements with Iran.
According to the channel, "the chances of reaching a detailed agreement between Iran and the U.S. are slim, but the existence of a framework agreement is still considered likely, and preparations should be made for this."
White House Press Secretary Livitt warned that Trump is not joking and is ready to "unleash hell." Iran should beware of miscalculations.
Here are some comments from the press secretary:
— The regime in Iran is looking for ways to get out of the situation, realizing that they have been defeated;
— The U.S. president always prefers peace — there should be no more casualties and destruction;
— However, if Iran does not accept reality and does not acknowledge its defeat, Trump will deliver more serious blows than ever;
— Trump and his administration intend to act in accordance with the law;
— Negotiations with Iran are ongoing and yielding results.
Iran has informed intermediaries that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreements with the U.S. and Israel, Reuters reports.
“Iran places paramount importance on Lebanon and will not allow Israeli violations on its territory, as happened after the ceasefire in 2024,” noted one of the agency's sources.
Alex Younger, former head of British intelligence MI6, believes that Iran has the advantage in the current conflict with the U.S., as reported by The Economist.
“The U.S. underestimated the complexity of the situation, and in my opinion, they lost the initiative in Iran about two weeks ago,” Younger stated, adding that the Iranian leadership has proven to be more resilient than expected.
“In June, the Iranians made a number of strategically sound decisions regarding the distribution of their military resources and delegated authority for the use of weapons, which increased their resilience to powerful air operations,” added the former head of MI6. Younger also expressed his opinion on Iran's "horizontal escalation strategy."
“Iran is using missile strikes against Gulf countries and applying pressure on the U.S. They have realized the importance of energy warfare and globalized the conflict, threatening control over the Strait of Hormuz, which has given them additional tools,” he noted.
Younger claims that control over the Strait of Hormuz gives Iran a strategic advantage in the conflict.
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