IRAN and Israel continued to trade missile and drone attacks today, amid mixed signals over supposed talks to end the United States and Israel’s illegal and unprovoked war against the Islamic Republic.

Iran has continued to deny President Donald Trump’s claim that peace talks involving US property developer Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have been going on for days.

Mr Trump has not revealed who is taking part in the “talks” from the Iranian side. He said he wouldn’t name the person because “I don’t want to get him killed.”

The US president said he was extending his self-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to five days to give the discussions a chance of success. 

His announcement came as thousands of marines headed to the region, raising speculation that the US may try to seize Kharg Island, which is vital to Iran’s oil network. 

US forces bombed the Persian Gulf island more than a week ago, hitting its defences but admitting that the attack had left oil infrastructure intact.

Iran has threatened to mine the Gulf if the US appears to be on the verge of landing troops.

Mr Trump has said he has no plans to send ground forces into Iran but has not ruled it out. Israel has suggested that its ground troops could participate in the war.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf called the claim of negotiations “fake news.” 

Iran’s top military commander Major General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi said his country’s “armed forces are proud, victorious and steadfast in defending Iran’s integrity and this path will continue until complete victory.”

Tehran remains highly suspicious of the US, which twice under the Trump administration has attacked as high-level diplomatic talks were taking place, including with the February 28 strikes that started the current war.

According to three Pakistani officials, one Egyptian official and a Gulf diplomat, the US has agreed “in principle” to join peace talks in Pakistan. Iran has not yet agreed to take part.

The Pakistani officials said the “quiet diplomacy” had grown more complicated since news of it leaked.

Israel has reportedly not been invited to participate.

The White House and Islamabad have been asked to comment.

Talk of negotiations briefly drove down oil prices and boosted stocks. But that respite was short-lived, with the price of Brent crude, the international standard, nudging back over $100 (£75) a barrel today, leaving it nearly 40 per cent higher than when the war started.