Iran has condemned Donald Trump’s threat to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic, calling it propaganda and warning that any US attack could provoke severe and unpredictable retaliation. The confrontation came alongside claims of a possible diplomatic opening, with Trump saying he had a good meeting with Iranian representatives and that further talks were planned.

Trump accused Iran’s government of killing more than 72,000 of its own citizens this year, including protesters, while Iran’s Armed Forces said US rhetoric would not change the balance of power. The reported conflict has also disrupted energy markets: Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate fell below $100 per barrel after news of the meeting, while Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi Arabia’s efforts to restore alternative export routes continued to affect oil supplies.