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President Donald Trump publicly tore into reports that Tehran had stopped talking to the United States, calling the stories “false and erroneous” on Truth Social. His post said talks were “going on continuously,” even as Iranian state-affiliated Tasnim claimed Tehran had frozen message exchanges in protest of Israeli actions in Lebanon. The contradiction is not small. It shook oil markets and left the press scrambling for clarity while Americans pay higher prices at the pump.
The mixed signals that moved markets
The quick version: Tasnim — a news outlet tied to Iran’s hardliners — reported Iran would stop message exchanges and might block the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump then fired off a Truth Social post saying communications never stopped, listing days they had been in touch. Oil prices spiked on the Tasnim claim and then jittered again as Mr. Trump denied the halt. Traders hate uncertainty; Americans hate higher gas bills. Both problems could have been eased with one clear answer from Tehran or the White House.
So which story is true?
Here’s where it gets spicy. In a CNBC interview, President Trump also told a reporter, “I don’t care if they’re over, honestly. I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less.” That’s a fine negotiating posture if you mean it, but it isn’t the same thing as insisting talks are ongoing. The media, predictably, lapped up the Tasnim line without demanding proof. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister warned the U.S. and Israel that any violation would be treated as an attack on all fronts. Translation: Tehran is playing both hardball and theater — and our markets paid the price.
Why the press should be called out — and the White House too
Mainstream outlets should stop treating hostile state media as gospel and should start asking tougher questions of Tehran and Washington alike. If Tasnim had a real diplomatic cable or an official Iranian notice, produce it. If not, call it what it is: a threat meant to rile markets and test U.S. resolve. At the same time, the White House should clear up whether official channels got any formal notice of a stop in communications. Americans deserve straightforward answers, not mixed signals that drive up energy costs and stoke fears of wider war.
Bottom line: President Trump was right to push back on a bogus-sounding report. But his own mixed messaging — loud denials on Truth Social and a shrug on CNBC — leaves too much room for mischief from Tehran and for panic in our markets. If you’re running negotiations that could keep tankers moving and prices down, clarity beats theatrics. The administration and the press should stop the circus act and give the country a straight line — for our economy and for our safety.
