The Iranian government has officially denied claims made by President Donald Trump that a new round of negotiations between Tehran and the United States is set to begin. The contradiction follows comments from the president, who stated on Sunday, Aug. 2, that he had held off on launching what he called the "biggest attack since World War II" to provide an opportunity for talks to resume.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed that the U.S. was "all set to go" with a massive military strike over the weekend, but opted to scrap the plans following requests from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Trump further asserted that negotiations between the two nations would commence on Monday, Aug. 3.
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei refuted this timeline on Monday. According to reports, Baghaei stated that Iran is not currently engaged in any negotiations with the United States. Instead, he clarified that Tehran is in discussions with Oman regarding a temporary safe route through the Strait of Hormuz. Baghaei emphasized that Iran has no current plans to host foreign delegations or send its own negotiators abroad in the coming days.
In response to the denial, President Trump took to social media to criticize Iranian leadership, labeling them "unbelievably duplicitous." He alleged that Iranian officials had asked for a meeting and that further talks were scheduled. Trump maintained that the U.S. is seeking a solution to a problem that has persisted for decades, reiterating his firm stance that Iran will never be permitted to possess a nuclear weapon. The president also noted that, in his view, internal factions within the Iranian government often hold conflicting positions, complicating the process of deciphering Tehran's formal stance.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 U.S. service members. Domestic support for the war remains low, with a July Washington Post/Ipsos poll indicating that more than two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of the situation.
