U.S. president claims negotiations are underway to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “literally by tomorrow,” while Tehran insists it is only talking to Oman

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared Monday that the United States and Iran are engaged in active negotiations to end their five-month-old conflict, describing the diplomatic push as Tehran’s “last chance” to reach a deal before facing more severe consequences.

“The talks with Iran are going on right now,” Trump told reporters at the White House, acknowledging that for “some reason, the Iranian side does not like saying they were in negotiations with the United States even though they spent hours and hours together talking”.

The president framed the negotiations in stark terms, warning that “this is a last chance for them to sign a good document”. “I want to give them every last chance before decapitation,” Trump said.

Two-Phase Approach

Trump outlined a two-phase framework for the talks. The first phase would focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments — “literally by tomorrow, completely open”. The second phase would address Iran’s nuclear program, with Trump insisting that “the denuclearization of Iran has to happen”.

He reiterated that the United States would not allow Iran to charge fees on ships transiting the strait. “I am not going to let them charge,” Trump said, emphasising that the U.S. maintains “total” control of the waterway through its naval blockade, which he dubbed the “U.S. wall of steel”. “No, there’s not going to be charging. We are not talking about charging at all. There won’t be charging,” he added.

Trump claimed the talks were being held “at the request of Iran, backed by Saudi Arabia, backed by UAE and backed by Qatar in particular, but others also”.

Iran Denies Direct Talks

Iran has categorically rejected Trump’s account. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that Tehran is not currently engaged in any negotiations with the United States, insisting that its only diplomatic discussions are with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

The denial prompted a sharp rebuke from Trump on social media, where he accused Iranian leaders of being “unbelievably duplicitous”. “They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Despite the denial, Iranian officials have confirmed that negotiations with Oman on a mechanism for ships to transit the waterway were “nearing completion and in their final stages,” according to Iranian state media. Baghaei said Iran and Oman were working toward an understanding on a route acceptable to both parties, though he stressed that the arrangement would not mean the immediate reopening of the strait.

Conflicting Signals and Regional Stakes

The contradictory statements reflect the complexity of the diplomatic effort, which comes as the United States maintains a naval blockade of Iran-related shipping and ports while Iran has halted most traffic through the strait. The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Trump had previously warned of further military action against Iran before agreeing to allow more time for negotiations. Gulf states including Saudi Arabia have called for dialogue to prevent further escalation in the region.

However, observers remain sceptical about the prospects for a lasting agreement. Vali Nasr, an Iran expert at Johns Hopkins University, said there was “no clear path” for Trump to achieve his goals. “He is trying his hand now at a diplomatic solution to avoid military escalation. But there’s no clear path, either diplomatically or militarily, to get Trump to a place where he can declare victory,” Nasr said.

Israeli Concerns

The diplomatic push has drawn scrutiny from Israel, which has been among the strongest advocates of maintaining pressure on Iran. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said that “with or without an agreement,” Israel would take action if Iran sought to advance its nuclear program or ballistic missile capabilities.

Trump’s announcement came with no reported phone call between the president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As diplomatic efforts continue, the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved. Iran has long demanded a role in managing passage through the strategic route, while Washington insists on free international navigation. Regional countries, including Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, have continued efforts to reduce tensions and facilitate an agreement.