Iran: U.S. Claim That Talks Have Resumed Is a Lie Aimed at Lowering Oil Prices

[Financial News]  

Iran’s security chief said the U.S. claim that talks to end the Iran war had resumed was nothing but a lie intended to drive down oil prices.
Mohsen Rezaee, secretary-general of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said in an interview on the 10th (local time) with Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese satellite news channel, that the U.S. claim it was continuing negotiations with Iran and would hold talks in Qatar was “an outright lie.”
Secretary-General Rezaee also dismissed as “entirely baseless and untrue” recent media reports about plans for a highly secret meeting between him and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
He accused the United States of deliberately leaking news that talks were resuming, saying, “This stems from the shallow aim of easing economic pressure and lowering oil prices.” He then denounced the U.S. response as “deceptive.”
Rezaee claimed that the two countries were not currently negotiating; rather, Iran had set out conditions and was waiting for a clear surrender or concessions from the United States.
He said, “Iran has already set out seven conditions and is awaiting a response from the United States,” adding, “Their initial response was unsatisfactory. We urged the U.S. side to provide a clear and unequivocal answer.” He also said, “The Strait of Hormuz will never be opened until our conditions are fully met.”
Meanwhile, international oil prices continued to fall despite the Iranian security chief’s hard-line remarks.
Brent crude, an international oil benchmark, for delivery next January at one point traded at $89.03 a barrel during the session. It was the first time Brent crude had fallen below $90 a barrel since August 31.
Brent crude prices are used as the benchmark for about 80% of the world’s oil.

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