President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that Iran had requested talks with the backing of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
He said negotiations would proceed in two phases, beginning with reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which he said would be “completely open” by Tuesday, before turning to Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump described the talks as Tehran’s “last chance” to reach an agreement, saying he wanted to give Iran “every last chance before decapitation.”
But Tehran rejected the announcement outright, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei saying there were no talks and no plans to receive a US delegation or send Iranian representatives to negotiations in the coming days.
Baghaei said Iran’s only confirmed discussions were with Oman over a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Reaching an understanding with Muscat over the proposed corridor would not by itself amount to reopening the strait, he added.
‘Deal or surrender’
Later Monday, Trump took to Truth Social to accuse Iran’s leadership of duplicity but said more talks were scheduled in the “immediate future.”
He added that the US naval blockade would remain in place until “a deal or total surrender is accomplished.”
A senior Iranian source also told Reuters that no negotiations were planned and that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was visiting Iraq, would be unavailable until at least the end of the week.
CBS News separately cited US officials as saying no new formal negotiations had been scheduled despite Trump’s public comments.
The officials said existing indirect contacts were continuing through intermediaries, involving US envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and other members of the American negotiating team on one side and Iranian representatives on the other.
The conflicting accounts left unclear whether Trump was referring to formal negotiations, indirect exchanges through mediators or efforts to arrange future talks.
Mediators keep channels open
Diplomatic activity nevertheless intensified across the region on Monday.
Araghchi held separate calls with his Omani, Saudi, Pakistani and Iraqi counterparts and also spoke with Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, about regional developments and diplomatic efforts.
Pakistan invited Araghchi to visit Islamabad, while reports said Tehran’s chief negotiators could be asked to take part in discussions there.
Islamabad and Doha have both been mentioned as possible venues for indirect talks, though no date or location has been confirmed.
Switzerland, which represents US interests in Iran, said it remained in contact with both sides and was prepared to assist if requested. An Iraqi politician also claimed Baghdad was carrying messages between Tehran and Washington.
Trump identified Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar as supporters of the talks, though he did not explain whether they were directly mediating or had encouraged Iran to engage.
Military pressure remains
The diplomatic push is unfolding under continuing US military and economic pressure.
Trump said the US Navy had complete control over the Strait of Hormuz and that “nothing would reach Iran” unless Washington permitted it. US Central Command said Monday it had redirected 44 commercial vessels, disabled two vessels and boarded two others while enforcing the blockade.
The strait remains the most immediate point of contention. Washington wants unrestricted passage through the waterway, while Tehran insists it retains authority over shipping and says US military action and the blockade must end before conditions can significantly change.
Oil prices fell sharply after Trump suspended the planned strikes, raising expectations of a possible agreement. Brent crude dropped nearly 7% on Monday.
Maritime risks nevertheless persisted. The UK Maritime Trade Operations said a vessel reported an explosion in the water nearby off Oman, although the ship and crew were safe.
Whether Trump’s timetable reflects active negotiations, indirect contacts or diplomatic optimism remains unclear. Tehran has so far confirmed neither broader talks with Washington nor any agreement.
