Trump says US-Iran talks continue as Tehran faces 'last chance' over Hormuz and nuclear issue
US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were continuing on Monday, despite Tehran's denial that talks were taking place. Speaking at the White House, he said Iran had a "last chance" to reach an agreement before what he described as "decapitation." He said the discussions were being pursued at the request of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other countries. Trump said the talks were focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and on Iran's nuclear programme.
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He said the waterway could reopen "literally by tomorrow," while denuclearisation would take longer. Iran's foreign ministry rejected the claim that it was negotiating with Washington, saying its talks were with Oman over safe passage through the strait. The gap between the two accounts leaves unclear whether the contacts are direct, indirect or limited to maritime arrangements.
The latest comments come after months of on-and-off diplomacy and renewed military pressure in the region. According to the supplied material, Washington and Israel launched surprise strikes against Iran on 28 February, after which Iran retained the ability to fire missiles and drones at US and allied targets. The row also says Iran has continued to obstruct vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and has fired on commercial ships since a ceasefire broke down.
That makes the waterway a central point of leverage in the wider confrontation. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy corridors, so any disruption can affect shipping and oil markets well beyond the Gulf. The involvement of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar suggests neighbouring states remain concerned about the risk of further escalation and the security of maritime trade.
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Trump also said he had pulled back from a planned attack on Iran on Saturday after what he described as requests from Tehran and several Middle Eastern countries, indicating that military and diplomatic tracks are moving in parallel. The supplied material also says Trump last week threatened to hit Iran "very hard," including possible strikes on energy infrastructure, before later saying the "perimeters" of a deal were there. Iran, for its part, has said it is not currently negotiating with the United States.
The foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said the focus in Oman was on securing passage through the Strait of Hormuz rather than direct talks with Washington. What remains unclear is how far apart the two sides are on the nuclear issue, whether any maritime understanding is close, and whether the current pause in military action will hold. It is also not clear whether the reported contacts can produce a formal agreement or only a temporary arrangement on shipping.
The next developments to watch are any direct confirmation from Washington, Tehran or Oman, and any sign of renewed pressure on vessels in the strait.
US President Donald Trump has said fresh negotiations with Iran are underway, warning Tehran it faces a "last chance" to agree a deal before what he described as "decapitation." Speaking at the White House, he said the talks were taking place despite earlier denials from Iran's Foreign Ministry that negotiations were happening. He said the discussions were being pursued at Iran's request and were backed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Trump said the immediate focus was the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and limits on Iran's nuclear programme.
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He described the strait as the first phase of any agreement and said the second phase would address Iran's nuclear capacity. He added that "denuclearisation of Iran has to happen," setting out conditions that Washington has repeatedly pressed in earlier diplomacy. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy routes, carrying roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade.
According to the supplied material, Tehran effectively closed the passage after US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which disrupted energy markets. The row also notes that the two sides reached a tentative agreement in June, including a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the strait, but retaliatory strikes later resumed. The latest comments underline how closely the diplomatic track is tied to regional security and global energy supplies.
Any movement on Hormuz would affect shipping through a chokepoint that is central to oil exports from the Gulf, while any nuclear limits would shape wider concerns about proliferation and military escalation. The involvement of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar also suggests that neighbouring states are trying to reduce the risk of further disruption. Trump also said he had called off a large-scale planned attack on Iran on Saturday after what he described as a request from Tehran and several Middle Eastern countries, saying the "perimeters of a deal" had been agreed.
The Iranian military reportedly rejected that account, calling it a "new lie" intended to "blackmail Persian Gulf rulers." Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that there were no negotiations with the US, although talks with Oman were under way over safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. What remains unclear is whether the reported contacts amount to direct negotiations, indirect talks, or a narrower maritime arrangement. It is also not clear how far apart the two sides remain on the nuclear issue or on the conditions for reopening the strait.
The next developments to watch are any formal confirmation from either government, any statement from Oman on maritime passage, and whether the reported pause in military action holds.
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