Iran's foreign ministry says it is in talks with Oman about a temporary shipping route through the strait of Hormuz, but is not reviving negotiations with the US, contradicting claims by Donald Trump that broader talks could restart as early as Monday.
Key facts
- Iran is discussing a temporary route through the strait of Hormuz with Oman to allow commercial shipping to resume.
- Tehran says it is not yet reviving talks with the United States.
- Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei was responding to claims by Donald Trump.
- Trump said he held off launching a major strike after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged diplomacy.
- Trump said the cancellation was conditional on Iran reaching a deal quickly.
Iran has been in discussions with Oman about creating a new temporary route through the strait of Hormuz that would allow commercial shipping to resume, but is not yet reviving talks with the United States, Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, according to the Guardian.
Esmail Baghaei, the foreign ministry spokesperson, was responding to claims by US President Donald Trump that talks between the two sides covering all the major disputes between them could restart as early as Monday.
The distinction drawn by Tehran is significant: while Iran acknowledged engagement with its neighbour Oman over the shipping issue, it stopped short of confirming any renewal of direct negotiations with Washington.
Trump claimed he had held off from launching what he described as the biggest strike on any country “since world war two” over the weekend, the Guardian reported.
According to the Guardian, Trump said he cancelled the planned strike after Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, rang him to urge diplomacy. Trump said the cancellation was conditional on Iran reaching a deal quickly.
The exchange highlights a gap between the two governments’ accounts, with Trump signalling that comprehensive talks could resume imminently while Tehran indicated that formal negotiations with the US remained on hold.
Why it matters
The differing accounts from Tehran and Washington underscore the fragility of diplomacy over the strait of Hormuz, a shipping route where the threat of military action remains active.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iran negotiating with the United States?
According to Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, Tehran is not yet reviving talks with the US, despite Donald Trump's claim that talks could restart as early as Monday.
What is Iran discussing with Oman?
Iran said it is in discussions with Oman about creating a new temporary route through the strait of Hormuz that would allow commercial shipping to resume.
Why did Trump say he held off a strike on Iran?
Trump said he held off launching what he called the biggest strike on any country since the second world war after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called him to urge diplomacy, adding that the cancellation was conditional on Iran reaching a deal quickly.