Iran has denied a claim by US President Donald Trump that new talks on ending the conflict would begin on Monday, after Trump called off strikes he described as “massive” over the weekend.
Trump Says Negotiations Start Monday Afternoon
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said Iran “knew the extent of the attack because they saw it forming”. He added that the US was now engaging in discussions, saying: “We’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon.”
Earlier, Trump had posted on Truth Social that Iran and regional allies had asked the United States to “hold off”, saying the “perimeters” of a deal had already been agreed.
Trump did not lay out a deadline for reaching an agreement with Tehran. He said the administration was ready to act “anytime we want”, adding: “I’m not looking to kill people.” He also said he would state where the talks would be held and who would attend.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Denies US Talks
On Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry said it was not negotiating with the US and there were no plans to do so. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was instead negotiating with Oman to reach “an understanding over a path to ensure the security of shipping passage through the Strait of Hormuz”.
The two countries have previously conducted discussions with US-Iran talks facilitated through mediators.
Trump Says Iran Strikes Paused Pending Rapid Deal
Trump has repeatedly said a negotiated end to the war was close, only for tit-for-tat strikes to resume after negotiations appeared to stall.
Mehr, a semi-official Iranian news agency, denied that Tehran had asked the US to hold off further military action, saying Trump’s claims were “nothing but a new lie”.
Strikes Called Off; Oil Falls
Trump said the planned strikes would have been the biggest attack since World War Two and could have undermined prospects of ending the months-long conflict. He declined to say whether he had been preparing to target Iranian energy infrastructure, which international law experts have said could amount to a war crime.
Iran’s acting Defence Minister Majid Ibn al-Reza said Tehran viewed threats from its adversaries as “real and credible”, including where they formed part of psychological warfare. He said Iran would neither be caught off guard nor remain passive.
Global oil prices fell in Asia on Monday after Trump’s announcement. Brent crude was down 4.5% at $83.98 (£62.26), while US-traded oil fell 4.6% to $80.74 (£59.85).
Energy prices have fluctuated since the conflict began on 28 February, with traders reacting to disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. About 20% of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) typically passes through the strait.
Past Warnings and Talks in Pakistan
Trump has issued repeated, escalating warnings to Tehran, followed by assertions that diplomacy remained an option. In a Saturday post, he said the US was “locked and loaded” to act against the Islamic Republic at “levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II”, before adding that cancelling the attack was for the future benefit of the world and for the survival of a “successful and prosperous Iran”.
On 7 April, he warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran did not engage in peace talks, threatening to destroy civilian infrastructure and power plants. The threat led to historic face-to-face talks in Pakistan, led by Vice-President JD Vance, but they did not produce a deal.
The Trump administration has also shown little regard for data indicating the war and its economic effects are broadly unpopular with Americans, including among many Republicans. Polling showing widespread dissatisfaction with the war’s handling has prompted concern among some conservative strategists as the November midterms approach.
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3 August 2026
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