Tehran has denied holding talks with the US despite President Donald Trump claiming it is desperate to reach a deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed that Tehran maintains contact with mediators from “friendly” countries but insisted that no talks are ongoing with the US. China has suggested that ongoing diplomatic efforts “offer a glimmer of hope for peace.”

US President Donald Trump earlier claimed that Iranian leaders are desperate to reach a deal but fear retribution from their own people if they publicly admit it.

“They want to make a deal so badly, but they’re afraid to say it because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people. They’re also afraid they’ll be killed by us,” Trump said.

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Meanwhile, the US and Israel have reportedly “temporarily” removed Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf from their hit list in order to have someone to engage with in peace negotiations.

Earlier reports claimed that the US had sent a 15-point ultimatum to Iran demanding that it dismantle its nuclear program, guarantee free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and stop support for regional allies.

Iranian officials are said to have dismissed the roadmap, instead demanding significant concessions from Washington, including a full withdrawal of US forces from the Gulf and “concrete guarantees” that military operations would not resume.

Here are the latest developments:

• Beijing has said ongoing diplomatic efforts “offer a glimmer of hope for peace.”
  
  
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the US-Israeli hostilities with Iran are spiraling out of control, threatening to plunge the world into a broader conflict and a deeper economic crisis.
  
  
• Concerns over a potential ground operation have intensified following reports that the Pentagon is preparing to deploy 2,000 additional troops from an airborne assault unit to the region.
  
  
• Tehran said that its enemies – backed by an unnamed country – are preparing to occupy one of its islands. “Our forces are monitoring all enemy movements, and if they step out of line, all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will, without restriction, become the target of relentless attacks,” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said.

Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.