Oil & Energy
Trump Says US-Iran Talks Ongoing at 'Rapid Pace'
US President Donald Trump said Monday that talks were progressing at a "rapid pace" with Iran, rejecting media reports that Tehran had suspended ongoing negotiations with the US."Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump posted on Truth Social.In a separate post, Trump said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that Israeli forces would not enter Beirut, while claiming Hezbollah had agreed to halt attacks on Israel."I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no troops going to Beirut, and any troops that are on their way, have already been turned back," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.Trump added that he also had a "very good call" with Hezbollah through intermediaries and that the group agreed "that all shooting will stop," adding that "Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel."The remarks came as efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remained uncertain and amid conflicting reports over the status of Iran-US negotiations.Earlier in the day, Trump said that he had not been informed after Iran's negotiating team had reportedly decided to suspend talks and the exchange of messages through mediators, multiple news outlets reported, citing phone interviews with Trump."It's an appropriate thing to say, because they're better negotiators than they are fighters," Trump said in a brief phone call with NBC News, adding, "But they haven't informed us of that."Trump also said Iran's decision would not immediately trigger military action and added, "It doesn't mean we're going to go and start dropping bombs all over there."On the US maritime blockade, which he lifted on Friday, Trump reportedly said it will remain in force.In another phone interview with CNBC, Trump said he was not concerned about higher oil prices following reports that Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz and halt negotiations, adding that he expects oil prices to fall sharply in the near term.The White House didn't immediately respond to' request for comment.Earlier in the day, Iran reportedly suspended indirect talks with the US as tensions in Lebanon escalated.Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Monday that Tehran's negotiating team will suspend talks and exchanges of messages with the US through mediators in response to what it described as the crossing of red lines in Lebanon and Gaza.Iran's senior military officer Mohsen Rezaee posted on X on Monday that Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz and will not allow the continuation of the maritime blockade or any further escalation in Lebanon."The Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's management. We will not allow the continuation of the maritime blockade, and the escalation of tensions in Lebanon will not be tolerated either," the post read.Rezaee, a senior commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, added that the patience of the Islamic Republic's armed forces has limits as regional tensions continue to rise.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post on X on Monday that he had instructed the Israel Defense Forces to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut's Dahiyeh district.Netanyahu said the order came in response to Hezbollah's "repeated and ongoing violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon" and attacks against Israeli cities and citizens.Meanwhile, Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told the Trump administration that Hezbollah is prepared to accept a full and immediate ceasefire with Israel, Axios reported, citing Berri's top adviser Ali Hamdan.Hamdan said that Hezbollah would fully commit to a comprehensive truce and that Berri conveyed the position to US Ambassador Michel Issa on Sunday.Hamdan rejected a limited ceasefire proposal that would halt Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel in exchange for Israel refraining from striking Beirut.Instead, he called for a full ceasefire across land, air and sea, according to the report.Oil prices climbed in early trading on Monday, with Brent crude rising 4.1% to $94.86 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate futures advancing 5% to $91.76/bbl.