Iran firmly denies rumors of secret talks, accusing The New York Times of engaging in "psychological warfare."

According to Jinshi reports, Iran has denied reports that its intelligence ministry has contacted the United States to discuss ending the Middle East war.

The New York Times previously reported that Iranian agents indirectly contacted the CIA on Sunday to discuss the terms for ending the conflict. According to semi-official Tasnim News Agency, sources from the Iranian intelligence ministry stated that the report is "pure lies and psychological warfare."

Following this denial, oil prices briefly rose but then quickly fell back as traders shifted their focus to the U.S. Navy's plans to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on Saturday triggered the war, traffic through this critical chokepoint has sharply decreased. In public statements, both Iran and the United States have vowed to continue fighting, increasing the likelihood of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East. So far, the conflict has resulted in over 1,000 deaths (mainly within Iran).