US President Donald Trump claimed that talks were underway to reopen the Strait of Hormuz ‘literally by tomorrow’, even as Iran denied holding negotiations with Washington.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said the situation would move quickly ‘one way or the other’. His remarks came alongside a warning that Iran faced a ‘last chance before decapitation’.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei rejected Trump’s claim, saying Tehran was not negotiating with the United States. He added that all Iranian negotiators, except Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, remained in Iran.
Trump later accused Iran’s leadership of duplicity, alleging that Iranian officials had sought a meeting before publicly denying any discussions.
Baqaei confirmed that Iran was consulting Oman about a temporary arrangement to ensure maritime safety in the strategic waterway. He insisted that no other country had joined the Muscat-Tehran talks.
The conflicting statements have deepened uncertainty over the strait, which carries about 20 per cent of the world’s fossil fuel supplies.
Trump said he had postponed a major bombing campaign planned for Sunday after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other parties urged restraint.
Saudi Arabia urged dialogue as Gulf states pushed for de-escalation after an earlier agreement to reopen the strait collapsed.
Recent hostilities have affected Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, while attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis have also disrupted shipping near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea.
Also Read: Iran Says Strait Of Hormuz Talks With Oman Near Final Agreement
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