Trump Claims US-Iran Talks to Resume, Tehran Denies

TEHRAN – Iran on Monday (3/8/2026) denied it was negotiating with the United States and stated that Tehran was working with Oman to open a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the discussions with Muscat were focused on efforts to guarantee the safety of shipping traffic in the strategic waterway.

“Our current discussions with Oman are focused on ensuring safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Baqaei said, as quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency.

“We are striving to establish a temporary route as soon as possible through cooperation with Oman so that the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz can be guaranteed,” he said.

Baqaei also denied reports of negotiations between Tehran and Washington. “We are not negotiating with the United States,” he said.

The statement came a day after US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran would begin on Monday afternoon. Trump said he was optimistic that an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz and the denuclearisation of Iran could soon be reached.

However, Baqaei stressed that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would not change as long as the United States continued its aggressive actions and maintained its blockade against Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important energy trade routes in the world, serving as the main conduit for crude oil and natural gas shipments from the Gulf region to international markets.