Iran says it’s not in negotiations with the US, ‘Trump backed down’

A senior Iranian security official claimed Monday that President Trump backed down from attacking Iran's critical energy infrastructure due to credible military threats and pressure from financial markets and allies. The official stated Tehran is not currently in negotiations with the Trump administration, appearing to frame Iran's military posture as a deterrent that forced the U.S. to reconsider military action. The assertion contradicts any notion of ongoing diplomatic engagement and positions Iran as having successfully resisted escalation through threat credibility. Iran's statement comes amid broader Middle East tensions and suggests the Iranian government is attempting to portray itself as having deterred U.S. military action rather than entering talks. The claim underscores the volatile state of U.S.-Iran relations and the role of military signaling in shaping potential conflict outcomes.