WASHINGTON/DUBAI, Aug 4 — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that negotiations with Iran were already under way and warned that the diplomatic window represented a “last chance” for Tehran to reach a deal that could end three weeks of war. Iranian officials, however, flatly denied that any talks with Washington were taking place or planned.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the discussions were happening at the request of Iran and several Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. He described the potential agreement in two phases: first, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and second, addressing Iran’s nuclear program.
“They are going on right now,” Trump said when asked about the status of the talks. “This is a last chance for them to sign a good document.”
Hours earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told reporters in Tehran that no Iranian delegation would host foreign negotiators or travel abroad in the coming days. He said the only discussions under way were bilateral talks with Oman on the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. A senior Iranian source also said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would be unavailable for any negotiations until later in the week.
The contradictory statements deepened uncertainty over a conflict that has shut one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the strait.
Trump’s remarks followed his decision over the weekend to call off what he described as “massive attacks” against Iran. He said Gulf leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had urged restraint. On social media, Trump accused Iran’s leadership of being “unbelievably duplicitous” for publicly denying talks while, in his view, privately seeking them.
Analysts said Iran may be betting that it can outlast Washington by keeping pressure on regional shipping lanes and energy infrastructure, raising the economic cost of confrontation. “Their big advantage is that they can hurt the regional states and the global economy,” said Michael Knights of the Washington Institute.
Oil prices fell sharply after Trump first announced the planned talks, with Brent crude dropping as much as 7 percent at one point. Prices later stabilized, but traders remained on edge as both sides offered conflicting accounts of what, if anything, had been agreed.
The episode fits a pattern in which Trump has repeatedly threatened major strikes against Iran only to pull back at the last minute, citing a desire to avoid bloodshed. Asked how Americans should view his repeated reversals, he said: “I want to give them every last chance before decapitation.”
For now, the Strait of Hormuz remains the focal point. Trump said the United States would not allow Iran to charge fees for ships passing through the waterway, which he called a “U.S. wall of steel.” Iran, meanwhile, has insisted that the strait will not return to its pre-war state until a broader settlement is reached.