Web Desk: Iran on Monday denied it was engaged in negotiations with United States, directly contradicting US President Donald Trump’s assertion that talks between the two countries were set to begin.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had neither scheduled talks with Washington nor planned to exchange official delegations.
“There are no plans to receive a delegation or send one,” Baghaei told reporters, adding that Iran’s current diplomatic efforts are focused on discussions with neighboring Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.
The comments came hours after Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday. The U.S. president, however, did not disclose where the talks would take place or identify the participants.
Trump also declined to set a deadline for reaching an agreement but said he had postponed possible U.S. military action against Iran after Gulf allies urged Washington to prioritize diplomacy.
According to Trump, leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia encouraged the United States to pursue negotiations instead of launching fresh attacks.
“I asked the crown prince what he preferred, and they said they would much rather see a deal than an attack because no one knows where military action could lead,” Trump said.
While rejecting claims of direct talks with Washington, Baghaei said Iran was nearing an understanding with Oman regarding a new navigation arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz.
He said both sides were working toward a mutually acceptable route that would protect their sovereign rights while safeguarding national interests and security.
Iranian officials, however, stressed that any agreement with Oman would not restore the strategic waterway to its pre-conflict operating conditions.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said negotiations with Oman had entered their final stages but did not provide further details.
The diplomatic uncertainty comes as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.
Shipping data showed vessel traffic slowed after reports of attacks on ships operating near the waterway. On Sunday, a tanker reported an explosion nearby, although the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre said both the vessel and its crew were safe.
Meanwhile, two Saudi oil tankers successfully transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait over the weekend despite threats by Yemen’s Houthi movement against shipping in the Red Sea.
The Strait of Hormuz, which previously handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, has remained at the center of regional tensions since the conflict began.
Restrictions on maritime traffic have contributed to higher global energy prices and renewed concerns about inflation and supply chain disruptions.
Although Trump has repeatedly signaled a willingness to escalate military action against Iran, he has also continued to leave the door open for negotiations, underscoring the uncertain trajectory of US-Iran relations.
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