Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Monday expressed doubt about President Trump\u2019s claim that the U.S. and Iran are negotiating a resolution to the weekslong conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf what the president is saying is true, that\u2019s encouraging. But of course, we\u2019ve heard the president say things that proved to be completely untrue in the past,\u201d Schiff told host Kaitlan Collins on CNN\u2019s \u201cThe Source.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo we really don\u2019t know what to believe, whether these talks are serious, whether they are close to any agreement, or whether this is Donald Trump just trying to bring down the price at the pump, something he is very sensitive to because he\u2019s getting a lot of backlash from around the country,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier Monday, Trump said U.S. strikes on Iran\u2019s energy infrastructure would halt for five days after \u201cproductive conversations\u201d with Iranian officials regarding an end to the war. Oil prices, which have risen greatly due to Iran restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, dropped in response, while stocks surged on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president also told reporters Monday that while he is not in contact with the new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner spoke with their Iranian counterparts on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Axios reported Monday, citing an Israeli official, that Witkoff and Kushner contacted Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament. Politico also reported Monday, citing two Trump administration officials, that the White House views Ghalibaf as a workable partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Ghalibaf on Monday denied that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are taking place, writing on the social platform X that \u201cfakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Schiff also noted that the five-day delay is a tactic Trump uses \u201cquite frequently.\u201d While the California Democrat said he is hopeful the negotiations are \u201cserious,\u201d he is \u201cvery skeptical,\u201d considering the Pentagon is reportedly sending thousands of Marines and sailors to the region next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what to make of this five-day delay,\u201d Schiff admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n