Trump and Xi prepare for high‑stakes talks as US strikes on Iran test a fragile trade truce, China’s oil lifeline and Taiwan tensions.

Iranian intelligence has sent word to the United States it could be prepared to open talks on how to end the war, according to people familiar with the indirect messages, but US officials say there are no negotiations currently underway and that potential “off ramps” are unlikely to materialize in the near term.

The talks sought to de-escalate tensions after Washington bombed Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran launched a bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

Ali Larijani, one of Iran’s remaining leaders, issued a chilling warning Saturday that President Trump must “pay the price” – following US and Israeli strikes that have decimated Tehran’s top figures.

Iran and the United States began indirect talks in Switzerland on Thursday, a last-ditch bid to avert war following the biggest American military build-up in the Middle East in decades.

Will US send troops to Iran for ground operation, and will Trump seize enriched uranium in Tehran with the help of special forces? Reports say the US is reviewing military options. These include a ground invasion or a special forces mission to secure Irans enriched uranium stockpile as tensions rise in the Middle East.

As the US military operation against Iran shifts into a new phase, how the war ends remains the top question for many officials, lawmakers and US allies.