Iran Denies Trump Claims Over US Strikes and Hormuz

Iran has denied claims by US President Donald Trump that Tehran had asked Washington to refrain from launching further military strikes, while also rejecting reports that an agreement had been reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency quoted unnamed military officials as describing Trump's claim that Tehran had sought to halt the attacks as "another lie". The officials said Iran's armed forces remain on high alert and prepared for any eventuality.

Separately, a source within Iran's negotiating team, cited by Fars News Agency, rejected reports that Tehran had accepted a Qatari proposal to resume navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, calling the reports unfounded.

The source said there was no agreement to reopen the strait, adding that Hormuz would remain closed while the United States continues what Tehran describes as aggressive actions against Iran.

Iran's acting Defence Minister Brigadier General Majid Ibn al-Rezaei, quoted by Press TV, described the latest US threats as psychological warfare but said Tehran was taking them seriously and would strengthen its military readiness and deterrent capabilities.

The statements followed comments from Trump, who said the United States was prepared to use military force on a scale "not seen since World War II", while also saying that regional allies had agreed on a framework for a possible deal to end the conflict.

Trump said he would temporarily refrain from ordering further strikes, provided negotiations could produce an agreement quickly. He also said the proposed agreement would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.

Iran, however, has rejected the claims of an agreement, leaving the situation around the strategically vital waterway and wider US-Iran tensions unresolved.