President Donald Trump said the latest contacts with Iran may be the final opportunity to bring the five-month conflict to an end. Speaking at the Oval Office late Monday, Trump described the discussions as a "last chance" and indicated that talks were taking place in real time.
The situation quickly grew more complicated as Tehran denied that negotiations were under way. That gap between Washington's account and Iran's response added fresh uncertainty around whether any diplomatic channel is active and whether it could produce a breakthrough.
Markets reacted to the latest developments, with oil prices moving higher as investors weighed the risk of prolonged instability. Any sign that the conflict could continue, or that diplomacy may be faltering, tends to keep energy traders focused on possible supply disruptions and broader regional tension.
For now, the main question is whether the latest round of diplomacy can gain traction before the conflict deepens further. Trump's warning and Iran's denial have left the outlook unclear, even as the political and economic stakes continue to rise.
