Iranian Parliament Dismisses U.S. Negotiation Claims as "Fake News"

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TEHRAN — On March 23, 2026, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, issued a formal rebuttal to assertions made by U.S. President Donald Trump concerning "productive" high-level talks between Washington and Tehran. In a series of public statements, Ghalibaf characterized the reports as "fake news," alleging that the claims were a strategic maneuver intended to influence global markets.

Disputed Claims of Diplomacy

The friction followed a post by President Trump on the social media platform Truth Social, in which he stated that the U.S. and Iran had engaged in "very good and productive conversations" over a 48-hour period. The President further announced a five-day postponement of planned military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, citing these discussions as a sign of a potential "complete and total resolution" of regional hostilities.

However, the Iranian legislative leadership responded with a categorical denial. Speaker Ghalibaf asserted that:

  • No direct negotiations have taken place between the two administrations.

  • The claims serve as a tool to manipulate oil and financial markets, which have faced extreme volatility during the current conflict.

  • The narrative was an attempt to provide the U.S. and Israel an "escape from the quagmire" of the ongoing regional war.



Strategic Context and Retaliation Threats

The denial from the Iranian Parliament was echoed by the Foreign Ministry, though spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei clarified that while messages had been received via "friendly countries" (intermediaries), they were answered only in accordance with Iran's established principles.

The backdrop of this rhetorical standoff includes Operation Epic Fury, a U.S.-led military campaign that began in late February 2026 targeting Iranian nuclear and energy sites. In the days leading up to the Speaker's comments:

  1. Energy Infrastructure: Despite the "pause" mentioned by Washington, Iranian state media reported continued strikes on gas facilities in Isfahan and pipelines in Khorramshahr.

  2. Military Readiness: Ghalibaf emphasized that Iranian officials remain "firmly behind their leadership," demanding "punishment for the aggressors" rather than a diplomatic compromise under current conditions.

  3. Regional Impact: The Revolutionary Guard warned that any further attacks on Iranian power plants would result in reciprocal strikes against regional infrastructure housing U.S. assets.


Market Reaction

Global energy markets reacted sharply to the conflicting reports. Oil prices, which had spiked due to the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, saw a temporary decline following Trump’s announcement of a diplomatic pause, only to face renewed uncertainty as Tehran’s legislative and military bodies rejected the premise of the talks.

Note: As of March 24, 2026, independent international observers have not been able to verify the existence of the "secret" high-level talks referenced by the White House, while the Iranian Parliament maintains its stance that no formal dialogue is underway

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