Speaking from the White House, President Trump announced that Washington and Tehran have initiated fresh negotiations. Trump asserted that these discussions are happening at Iran's request, with backing from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. He characterized the current situation as a final opportunity for Iran to sign a favorable agreement, warning that the country is facing a critical moment before potential decapitation.
The primary focus of these talks is the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated that the goal is to have the passage, which handles approximately a quarter of global seaborne oil trade, fully operational by tomorrow. He outlined a two-phase process, noting that once the Strait is secured, the discussions would transition to addressing Iran's nuclear capacity, emphasizing that the denuclearization of the country must occur.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained a central point of contention for months. Tehran effectively shuttered the passage following US and Israeli strikes against Iran in late February, an action that triggered significant volatility in global energy markets. Although the two nations reached a tentative memorandum of understanding in June to end hostilities and reopen the passage, the effort collapsed as retaliatory strikes resumed.
Contradicting the President's account, the Iranian military dismissed claims that Tehran had requested the US to halt attacks, labeling the assertion a new lie intended to blackmail Persian Gulf leaders. Additionally, Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated on Monday that there are currently no negotiations taking place with the United States. He clarified that Iran is only engaged in separate talks with Oman regarding the safe passage of vessels through the Strait.
"We're talking. And we're talking at the request of Iran, backed by Saudi Arabia, backed by UAE and backed by Qatar in particular," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
"We're talking about the Strait, the opening of the Strait, having it open literally by tomorrow, completely open," he said.
