Fresh uncertainty has emerged over efforts to end the six-month conflict between the United States and Iran after Tehran flatly denied President Donald Trump’s claim that new negotiations between both countries would begin on Monday.
The disagreement comes just days after Trump said Washington had postponed another round of military strikes to create room for diplomacy. Speaking aboard Air Force One, the US president said negotiations would focus on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme, adding that a deal was within reach.
However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the announcement. Speaking during a weekly briefing, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said there were no direct negotiations with the United States, explaining that Iran’s current discussions were only with Oman over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are not currently negotiating with the United States. Our negotiations are with Oman to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” Baqaei said.
The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the biggest flashpoints in the conflict. Since fighting escalated earlier this year, Iran has tightened control over the strategic waterway, demanding greater authority over shipping routes and transit fees—conditions rejected by Washington. Tehran says discussions with Oman are aimed at finding a mutually acceptable maritime route that protects both countries’ interests, but insists this should not be interpreted as reopening the strait.
Despite Iran’s denial, Trump maintained that negotiations were scheduled to begin on Monday afternoon. He also claimed he had suspended what he described as a potentially massive military offensive after appeals from Iran and regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Iranian media swiftly rejected those claims, insisting Tehran never requested a halt to any planned attack.
The latest diplomatic dispute unfolded as security concerns persisted in the Gulf. On Sunday, a commercial tanker near the coast of Oman reported hearing an explosion in nearby waters, although the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that neither the vessel nor its crew suffered any damage.
Meanwhile, Iranian lawmaker Hassan Ghashghavi revealed that mediators are attempting to revive a memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran in June. While not a final peace agreement, the framework was designed to pave the way for broader negotiations, particularly on the future of the Strait of Hormuz.
With both governments offering sharply different accounts of the diplomatic process, uncertainty continues to surround prospects for peace. Although indirect contacts appear to be ongoing through regional mediators, there is still no clear indication that direct US-Iran negotiations have officially resumed.
