Trump Claims Iran Talks Underway, Tehran Denies Direct Contact

Iran and Oman appear close to an agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary arrangement where both nations collect service fees from passing vessels. The proposed route would direct ships entering from the Indian Ocean through Iranian territorial waters while outbound traffic from the Persian Gulf would hug Oman's southern coast. Iranian officials described the setup as lasting one to three months and stressed that the legal regime for the strait would not return to its pre-war status of open passage without state control.

President Donald Trump said Monday that direct talks with Iran are underway at Tehran's request and represent a final opportunity to end the conflict. He accused Iranian leaders of being unbelievably duplicitous for publicly denying negotiations while engaging in them behind the scenes. Trump noted that Iran had sought meetings and then claimed none existed, insisting the discussions center on reopening the critical waterway that handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments in normal times.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman pushed back immediately, stating that no negotiations with the United States are taking place and that all discussions involve only Oman over a safe temporary route. This denial comes even as Qatari officials confirmed their diplomats are working alongside mediators from Pakistan and Oman to exchange drafts between Washington and Tehran. Oil prices rose more than 2 percent Tuesday amid the conflicting signals and uncertainty over whether any deal would actually materialize.

The diplomatic back-and-forth follows another attack on a cargo vessel near Oman's coast in the strait, reported by British maritime authorities. Traffic through the passage remains a fraction of peacetime levels after months of disruption. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told state media that his country would defend its borders without seeking wider conflict.

Trump has framed the current round as Iran's last chance to sign an agreement before facing severe consequences. Iranian negotiators, however, continue to frame any arrangement as one in which Iran holds dominant control rather than a return to free transit. The proposed fees for environmental and security costs would create a new revenue stream for both Iran and Oman at a time when energy markets have already seen sharp volatility.

US officials familiar with the talks indicated that the route changes would give Iran practical leverage over inbound traffic while Oman handles the exit lane. This split arrangement sidesteps full restoration of open international waters and instead codifies limited state oversight. Markets reacted with initial gains in crude prices before partial reversal once Qatar's mediation role became public.

The pattern of public denials alongside private contacts has left American negotiators expressing frustration over inconsistent messaging from Tehran. With the war now stretching into its sixth month, the focus remains squarely on whether any temporary route through the strait can deliver lasting stability or simply delay further escalation.