Iran has denied that any negotiations are taking place with the United States after President Donald Trump said new talks would begin on Monday in an effort to end their six-month war.
The Iranian foreign ministry issued the rebuttal following Trump’s claim that he had delayed further strikes to allow diplomacy another chance. The conflict began on 28 February when the United States and Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran. Periods of relative calm have alternated with renewed threats ever since.
Trump had warned last week that the United States could hit Iran “very hard,” including possible strikes on energy infrastructure. He later stepped back, stating that the “perimeters” of a deal were visible. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei rejected the suggestion of direct talks. “We are not currently negotiating with the United States. Our negotiations are with Oman to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
The narrow waterway remains the central point of friction. Before the war, ships passed freely. Iran has since restricted traffic, fired on commercial vessels, and insisted on retaining control while charging fees—demands the United States rejects. Tehran has also limited vessels to a route that hugs its own coastline.
Baqaei said Iran was close to an understanding with Oman on a mutually acceptable route that respects the sovereign rights of both sides. He stressed, however, that such an arrangement would not mean the full reopening of the strait.
Trump told reporters the new talks would cover Hormuz and the broader issue of Iran’s nuclear programme. Western governments accuse Tehran of seeking a nuclear weapon; Iran maintains the programme is purely civilian. The United States president claimed Iran and regional partners including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar had asked him to hold off on what he described as a potentially massive attack. Iranian media denied any such request from Tehran.
This sequence follows a familiar pattern. Public claims of imminent progress have repeatedly given way to renewed tension or outright denial. A previous ceasefire understanding collapsed last month. Iranian officials now speak of efforts to revive an earlier memorandum focused on Hormuz as a possible stepping stone, yet both sides continue to issue contradictory statements about whether serious negotiations are even under way.
The gap between announced diplomacy and confirmed engagement remains wide. Until the two sides can agree on basic facts—whether talks exist and what they are meant to achieve—the risk of further escalation will persist alongside the unresolved status of one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
