The Digester

President Trump claimed productive discussions with a top Iranian figure and said talks would continue by phone, while Tehran denied any contact and regional intermediaries including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt are reported to have relayed messages.

Trump said the US had "very good and productive conversations" with Iran and would continue talks by phone.
Iran officially denied that negotiations were taking place.
Trump said he spoke with a "top person" he described as "the most respected and the leader" Motjaba Khamenei, but not the supreme leader.
Trump refused to name interlocutors, saying he did not want to put them at risk, and claimed the sides reached "major points of agreement."
Analysts and officials say backchannel diplomacy by Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan helped de-escalation efforts.
Pakistani sources named Iranian figures Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf as possible contacts, though Qalibaf denies any US contact.

Trump says US held talks with Iran; Tehran denies contact

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