Tehran [Iran], August 4 – Iran on Monday denied that it is holding any negotiations with the United States contradicting President Donald Trump’s announcement that fresh talks would begin to help end the six-month conflict between the two countries.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran is not engaged in direct negotiations with Washington. Instead, he said Iran is in discussions with Oman over arrangements related to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route that has become a central issue in the conflict.
Trump had told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday afternoon and would focus on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme. He also said he had postponed planned military strikes after receiving requests from Iran and regional partners including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to allow diplomacy to continue.
Iranian media rejected Trump’s claim that Tehran had sought to avoid further US strikes.
Baqaei said discussions with Oman are aimed at reaching an agreement on a mutually acceptable shipping route that protects the interests and security concerns of both countries. However, he stressed that any understanding would not amount to reopening the strategic waterway where tensions have disrupted commercial shipping in recent months.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the biggest obstacles to ending the conflict with Iran insisting on tighter control over maritime traffic while the US has demanded unrestricted navigation.
Despite the public disagreement over negotiations Iranian officials acknowledged that indirect exchanges through mediators continue raising the possibility of future diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and revive a broader agreement.
