Trump says Iran talks begin Monday, Tehran denies negotiations

President Donald Trump has announced that new talks with Iran will begin on Monday, August 3, 2026, in an effort to end the conflict that has entered its sixth month. Iran's Foreign Ministry, however, promptly denied that any negotiations are taking place with the United States.

Trump said he had delayed launching further strikes against Iran to allow for diplomatic efforts, a pattern that has repeated throughout the war. The conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel carried out surprise attacks on Iranian targets. Since then, periods of relative calm have followed on-and-off diplomacy.

Last week, Trump threatened to hit Iran “very hard,” with reports suggesting the U.S. was considering renewed attacks, including on energy infrastructure. But on Saturday, the President pulled back from that threat, saying the “perimeters” of a deal were in place.

During a weekly press briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, “We are not currently negotiating with the United States. Our negotiations are with Oman to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz.” His remarks came hours after Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that talks would begin “tomorrow afternoon.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical trade corridor through which a significant share of the world's oil and gas passes. Before the war, ships moved freely through the strait. But Iran has obstructed vessels, firing on commercial ships and insisting on retaining control and charging fees—a condition the U.S. rejects. Tehran also refuses to allow ships to use routes other than one that hugs the Iranian coast.

On Sunday, Baqaei told state television that an agreement with Oman on managing the strait was close. He said, “We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides — neither the northern route nor the southern route — but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security.” He stressed that such an agreement would not mean the reopening of the waterway.

Also on Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that a tanker off the coast of Oman had heard an explosion nearby. The ship and its crew were reported safe. The incident highlights the continued risks to shipping in the region.

Trump said the new talks would cover both the Strait of Hormuz and the denuclearisation of Iran. At the outset of the conflict, the U.S. stated that the war was necessary to address Iran's nuclear programme. Western nations accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear bomb, while Tehran insists its programme is for civilian purposes only.

The President did not provide details of the venue or participants for the announced talks. He also claimed that Iran and U.S. partners, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, had asked him to hold off on further strikes, which he described as potential “the biggest attack since World War II.” Iranian media denied that Tehran had made such a request.

Trump has repeatedly asserted that a settlement is near, only for fighting to resume. He has also issued stark warnings to Tehran before later saying diplomacy was underway. A previous ceasefire deal collapsed last month; it had been intended to open the Strait of Hormuz to ships carrying vital energy exports from the Gulf to the global economy.

Iranian lawmaker Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for the parliament's national security commission, said on Sunday that mediators were attempting to revive a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding reached in June. That agreement was designed not as a final peace deal but as a stepping stone to negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.

The situation remains fluid, with both sides expressing contradictory positions. While Washington signals that formal talks are imminent, Tehran insists that its current diplomatic engagement is limited to its neighbours, specifically Oman. The coming days will determine whether the latest diplomatic push can succeed where previous efforts have failed.