# Iran says it can repel U.S. attack as Trump’s peace talks stall **Published:** 2026-06-12T02:14:46.965Z **Topic:** U.S., Iran intensify attacks as ceasefire frays, peace talks stall **Sentiment:** neutral **Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/9fc8f5a2-d1f1-4d9a-92bb-ab8918b2b7a8 Iran’s foreign ministry claims it can defend against further U.S. strikes while President Trump’s negotiations with Tehran falter amid his state visit to China. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that planned U.S. strikes against Iran were being called off because “serious negotiations” were underway, but Iran’s foreign ministry immediately disputed any finalized agreement and warned that the cease‑fire was “meaningless” after recent attacks [1]. The contrast between Trump’s claim of a looming peace deal and Tehran’s insistence that talks remain unresolved underscores a volatile diplomatic impasse. **Key takeaways** - Trump said the U.S. halted a scheduled attack on Iran, citing high‑level talks that could lead to a peace agreement [1]. - Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called the president’s statements “speculative” and said no agreement had been finalized [1]. - Both sides have exchanged airstrikes in the past week, with the U.S. striking Iran on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Iran responding in kind [1]. - The cease‑fire established in April has been described by Tehran as “meaningless” after the latest U.S. attacks [1]. - Trump’s statements came while he was on a state visit to China, and he reiterated a willingness to resume large‑scale assaults if a deal is not reached [2]. ## Trump’s reversal and Iran’s rebuttal On June 11, President Trump first threatened a third night of bombing and the seizure of Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, before posting on social media that the strikes were cancelled because “discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved” [1]. In the Oval Office he claimed the United States and Iran had reached a “very strong memorandum of understanding” that could be signed in Europe as early as the weekend [1]. Iran’s foreign ministry, however, pushed back. Spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state broadcaster that the claims of an agreement were “speculative” and that nothing had been finalized [1]. Tehran also said that recent U.S. airstrikes had rendered the April cease‑fire “meaningless,” indicating that the fighting continued despite diplomatic overtures [1]. The back‑and‑forth occurred amid Trump’s state visit to China, where he was reportedly balancing diplomatic pressure from Gulf Arab states with his own public rhetoric. CBS News reported that Trump said he postponed the planned attack at the request of Gulf allies because “serious negotiations are now taking place” and that he kept military leaders ready for a “full, large scale assault” if a deal failed to materialize [2]. ## Ongoing military pressure and diplomatic deadlock Even as Trump announced the cancellation of the immediate strike, U.S. forces had already exchanged fire with Iranian units on two consecutive nights, raising concerns of escalation [1]. After a U.S. strike on Tuesday in retaliation for the downing of an Army Apache helicopter, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved another round of attacks for Wednesday, a move Trump described as “negotiating with bombs” [1]. Iran’s lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned on social media that impulsive U.S. decisions could “reset the entire board for the worse” and damage regional energy infrastructure [1]. Analysts noted that Iran is unlikely to reduce its strikes on U.S. bases while under attack, and that any U.S. attempt to seize Kharg Island would be difficult and could provoke further retaliation [1]. Both sides remain entrenched: Tehran has not agreed to abandon its nuclear program, missile development, or support for regional proxies, while Trump continues to claim that a deal is imminent despite the lack of concrete details [2]. ## Why it matters The clash between Trump’s public optimism about a peace deal and Iran’s firm denial highlights the fragility of the cease‑fire and the risk of further military escalation. If negotiations stall, the United States may resume large‑scale operations, potentially targeting strategic oil infrastructure such as Kharg Island, which could disrupt global oil markets and raise prices further. Conversely, any breakthrough could open a path to ending the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and reducing regional instability. For now, the divergent narratives suggest that diplomatic progress remains uncertain, and the region watches closely as the U.S. president returns from China. ## Sources 1. The New York Times — [Trump, in Latest Pivot, Retracts Threat to Strike Iran Again and Widen the War](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/world/middleeast/trump-retracts-threat-iran.html) 2. CBS News — [Trump calls off scheduled attack on Iran amid "serious negotiations" toward peace deal](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-warning-oil-stock-prices-futures-ceasefire-diplomacy/) --- Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Iran says it can repel U.S. attack as Trump’s peace talks stall", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/9fc8f5a2-d1f1-4d9a-92bb-ab8918b2b7a8