Washington: US President Donald Trump Tuesday denied reaching out to Iran for peace talks, dismissing such reports as fabricated news. "I have not reached out to Iran for 'Peace Talks' in any way, shape, or form," Trump wrote on Truth Social, denying media reports, including an Axios piece suggesting the White House is exploring a potential meeting this week with Iran to advance diplomacy on the nuclear deal and end the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. "This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS," he said.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump stated that if Iran wanted to communicate, "they knew how to reach" him. He criticized Iran for not accepting a previous deal, which he claimed "would have saved a lot of lives." Earlier, Trump informed reporters about his desire for "a real end" to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, or alternatively, for Iran to "give up entirely."

Regional tensions have intensified since Friday's Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, which triggered retaliatory attacks. Israeli officials reported that Iranian missile strikes have killed at least 24 people and injured hundreds. Conversely, Iran stated that the Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 224 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries.