US and Iran give differing accounts of potential talks as Trump postpones strikes on power plants

US and Iranian officials are giving conflicting accounts of potential talks between the two countries on the ongoing war.

President Donald Trump says he has postponed threatened strikes on Iranian power plants after having "productive" conversations with Tehran.

However, Iran's parliament speaker denies discussions have taken place, calling it "fake news".

An Iranian foreign ministry official says Tehran has received "points from the US" via mediators as a "potential precursor to talks", according to the BBC's US partner, CBS News.

The White House says speculation about meetings "should not be deemed as final", our Washington correspondent reports.

Meanwhile the price of oil has again risen to over $100 a barrel, after plunging on Monday.

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'Speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final' - White House

The White House on Monday appeared to tamp down speculation surrounding potential US-Iran negotiations over the war after President Donald Trump suggested the two sides were making "major" progress toward a deal.

Trump's comments about negotiations on a whirlwind day of remarks on the war sparked reports that US Vice-President JD Vance might represent the administration in talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan.

But the White House says the situation is “fluid” and cautioned that no formal meetings between any top leaders from the US and Iran have been announced.

"These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press," Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, tells the BBC in a statement.

"This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House," Leavitt says.

Report: Iran received points from US mediators

Amid conflicting reports about possible US-Iran negotiations, a senior Iranian foreign ministry official told the BBC's US partner CBS News: “We received points from the US through mediators and they are being reviewed."

CBS clarifies that this step was taken "as a potential precursor to talks", and that talks are not confirmed or under way.

The comments come after President Trump said the US and Iran held talks on ending the war, but Iran's parliament speaker denied it.

Trump has reiterated that the US could reach a deal to halt the conflict after walking back on threats to bomb Iranian energy sites and postponing the strikes.