Iran denies negotiating with US after Trump announces talks

Iran's foreign ministry has denied that any negotiations are currently underway with the United States, despite President Donald Trump's announcement of new talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The ministry clarified that discussions were exclusively with Oman, focusing on securing passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

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We are not currently negotiating with the United States. Our negotiations are with Oman to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

This rebuttal comes after Trump stated that new talks were scheduled to begin Monday to resolve the war, which has been in its sixth month. He had previously threatened "very hard" strikes against Iran, including targeting energy infrastructure, but later indicated that diplomatic efforts and the "perimeters of a deal" had led him to hold back.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade corridor, has been a major point of contention. Iran has obstructed vessels and insists on controlling and charging fees for passage, a demand rejected by the US. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, stated that a deal with Oman was close to managing the strait, emphasizing that any agreement would respect sovereign rights and national interests without necessarily reopening the strait to unrestricted passage.

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We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides, neither the northern route nor the southern route, but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security.

Meanwhile, a tanker near Oman reported an explosion nearby, though the ship and crew were safe. Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, indicated that the new talks would address the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program, a long-standing issue with Western nations accusing Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies.

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Now what we're doing is we're talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon.