... Trump says the U.S. has been holding talks with Iran.
He said his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and close aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner talked to the Iranians on Sunday and that discussions would continue on Monday.
He declined to say who the United States was speaking with in Iran but said it was not Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Trump said Iran "had some leaders left."
"We're dealing with the man who I believe is the most respected and the leader," Trump said.
An Israeli official and a source familiar with the matter both said the U.S. was holding negotiations with the speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
Egypt, Pakistan and Gulf states have been relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, a European official told Reuters, describing the contacts as part of efforts to open communication between the warring parties rather than formal mediation.
Iran's foreign ministry said there were "initiatives" to reduce tensions, the Mehr news agency reported, adding that Tehran wanted Washington, as the party that began the war, to be a direct participant.
Iran's Fars news agency, citing a source, said there were no direct or indirect communications with the United States. ...
