Iran denies any talks with US, says only Oman consultations underway on Strait of Hormuz safe passage

Trump's announcement

On Sunday, President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that new negotiations with Iran would begin the following afternoon. He also disclosed that he had postponed a planned attack on the country, asserting that Iranian officials were aware of its scale.

“Of course they don't want to be attacked. They knew its scope, because they saw it taking shape... What we will do now is talk to them, in the form of negotiations. That will start tomorrow afternoon.”

Iran's denial

By Monday morning, Iran's foreign ministry had issued a flat rejection of any imminent dialogue. Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told state media that no talks with the United States were underway and that there was no plan to host or dispatch a delegation.

“There is no plan to receive a delegation or send one these days.”

Baghaei's statement directly contradicted Trump's timeline, leaving the status of any diplomatic channel uncertain.

Oman consultations

While ruling out direct US talks, Baghaei confirmed that Iran is currently in discussions with Oman. The consultations focus on establishing a temporarily safe route through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.

“Iran is not currently conducting negotiations with the United States and is now in discussions with Oman about a temporarily safe route through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Strait of Hormuz and US 'aggression'

Baghaei cautioned that even if an agreement with Oman is reached, it would not be sufficient to reopen the strait. He said the situation would remain unchanged as long as what he termed US "aggression" persists. The remarks signal that Tehran views the waterway's status as linked to broader security guarantees, not merely a bilateral arrangement with Muscat.

Postponed attack

Trump's disclosure of a called-off strike added a military dimension to the diplomatic back-and-forth. He suggested that Iran's leadership understood the attack's scope because they observed preparations. No further details on the nature or timing of the planned operation were provided, and Iranian officials did not directly address that claim in Monday's statements.