President Trump has announced early this morning, once again on his “Air Force One” account on X which is called “Rapid Response,” announced that negotiations will take place today with Iran on a “deal.” He did not set a deadline. Iran has again denied that negotiations are scheduled. This is at least Trump’s fifth or sixth act of this kind; in which it appears that he is acknowledging Iran’s leverage over the economy and in the region.
Trump put it that “this could be a deal on Hormuz … and I think, ultimately, on the nuclearization … I call it the denuclearization of Iran.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran has not planned any meetings “in these days” with other nations. “We are not journeying to other countries and not receiving people here in Iran for discussions in these days.”
But in fact, Iran later today insisted that Iran and Oman were actually negotiating now, and that a solution including a “new passage” through the Strait, was reaching its final stage. This according to Bloomberg News today, which quoted Esmail Baghaei (Foreign Ministry spokesman) saying, “We are not negotiating with the United States of America.”
According to IRNA, Baghaei specified that reaching an understanding with Oman is a necessary condition for the reopening of Hormuz, but it is not directly tied to it. The strait had not been closed due to a disagreement in the region, but rather because of the U.S.-Israeli war. Therefore, he went on, a significant change in the situation in the strait is unlikely as long as the US continues its “evil acts,” including the naval blockade of Iran and military aggression against its interests.
Later Trump denounced Iran on his Truth Social site: “Iranian leadership is incredibly duplicitous! First 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’.”
Oman did not comment on the situation yesterday. Trump continues to repeat the same sequence multiple times, clearly looking for a way out which he can call a great victory.
