US-Iran War Remains Uncertain as Trump Claims Talks, Tehran Denies
Uncertainty over the fate of the US-Iran conflict has increased again after US President Donald Trump claimed negotiations with Tehran were ongoing, a statement immediately denied by the Iranian government. The contradictory claims emerged as tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas trade passes, and which has recently seen further incidents involving commercial vessels.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said talks with Iran had been underway since Monday, calling it a ‘last chance’ for Tehran to reach an agreement. ‘They’re going on right now,’ Trump said, adding that the discussions were held at Iran’s request and that Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar had also asked for them. The statement came just days after Trump called off plans for a ‘massive attack’ on Iran, opting instead to give diplomacy a chance, a pattern repeated several times during the five-month conflict of threatening military strikes before postponing them.
However, the Iranian government presented a completely different account. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei firmly stated that no negotiations were underway nor was any meeting with the US scheduled in the near future. He said all Iranian negotiators were inside the country, except for Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who was on a religious pilgrimage in Iraq. According to Baghaei, the only ongoing talks were with Oman regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
Amid the contradictory claims, the security situation in Hormuz remains fragile. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported a cargo ship sent a distress signal after being struck by an unknown projectile near the coast of Oman, not far from the strait. Data from Kpler also showed vessel traffic through the strait remained low, with only six ships crossing on Monday, comprising three tankers and three bulk carriers, down from seven the previous day.
Despite this, hopes that tensions might ease briefly pushed oil prices down by around 7% to approximately US$83.77 per barrel in Monday trading, while the Dow Jones stock index closed at a record high. ‘Iran has a huge advantage because it can put pressure on regional countries and the global economy,’ said Michael Knights, an analyst at the Washington Institute.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump again accused Iran’s leadership of being ‘very two-faced’, claiming Iran had requested a meeting and that further talks would be held soon. Trump also reiterated that the US Navy had full control of the Strait of Hormuz, writing, ‘The United States Steel Wall! Nothing can pass Iran unless we want it to, and nothing will pass until a deal is reached or total surrender.’ To date, Trump has not achieved the goals he announced at the start of the conflict, which include halting Iran’s nuclear programme, limiting Tehran’s military capabilities in the region, and creating conditions to topple the clerical government in Iran.