On Aug. 3, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that negotiations with Iran are underway and accused Tehran of being "unbelievably duplicitious" after Iran's Foreign Ministry denied that any talks with the United States are taking place. [1] [2]
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the only negotiations underway are between Iran and Oman, and that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would not change unless the U.S. lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, according to a report from Antiwar.com. [16]
The statements followed U.S. claims over the weekend that Tehran requested talks and prompted a delay of a planned attack; Iranian officials denied those claims, according to Middle East Eye. [3] No direct negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials have been confirmed by either side.
Trump's Scathing Truth Social Post
In his post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous! 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.'" [1]
Trump added that the Strait of Hormuz "is already completely controlled by the United States Navy and our 'Blockade' or, as some say, 'The United States Wall of Steel!' Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished." He concluded the post by writing, "IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!" [4] [16]
Later in the day, Trump told reporters that Iran was facing its last chance for a deal "before decapitation," according to NTD's evening news broadcast. [5] Trump told journalists outside the Oval Office that "we are talking right now at the request of Iran," backed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, according to Middle East Eye. [6]
What Iranian Officials Say
Baghaei told reporters that Iran has no plans to host foreign delegations or send negotiators abroad, according to Just the News. [2] He said the current talks are with Oman on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report from The Epoch Times. [7]
A Tehran official said that the situation in the waterway "will remain unchanged" unless the blockade is lifted, according to a report from The Times of Israel. [8]
Iranian officials earlier rejected claims that Tehran requested the U.S. back down or sought talks, assertions Trump made over the weekend. [3] The pattern of announced negotiations followed by denial from Tehran has repeated numerous times since February 28, according to an article from NaturalNews.com. [9]
The U.S. Blockade and Military Posture
On Aug. 2, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that since the blockade was reimposed, its forces have "redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2," according to the report.
The blockade, ordered in April, targets ships entering or exiting Iranian ports, according to NaturalNews.com. [10] Trump has said the blockade will remain in effect until a deal or surrender is accomplished. [4]
The blockade was ordered after the collapse of talks over Iran's nuclear program, and global oil prices surged over 7%, with Brent crude jumping back above $100 a barrel, according to NaturalNews.com. [10] Crude oil futures fell over 6% after Trump's announcement that talks would begin, even as Tehran denied negotiations were taking place, according to Middle East Eye. [11]
The threat of escalation and further U.S. strikes on Iran remains on the table as the blockade continues, according to the report. The U.S. military has also been emailing experts to ask for the best way to "punish" Iran, according to a CNN report cited by Middle East Eye. [12]
Analysts told the BBC that the threat to oil tankers in the Middle East is at its worst since the war began. [13]
Background
Over the weekend, Trump said that he decided to hold off on an attack that would have inflicted "military terror" on Iran, according to the report. Trump said he called off what he described as a "massive attack" after being asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, according to The Epoch Times. [7]
The war began on Feb. 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Just The News. [14] Fighting has continued in fits and starts, with Trump announcing pauses and then resuming strikes, according to the report.
Iran's stated diplomatic channel remains Oman. Iran signed a deal with Oman in 2014 to construct an underwater gas pipeline, an arrangement that would move natural gas without transiting the Straight of Hormuz, according to Charlotte Dennett's book "The Crash of Flight 3804." [15]
Trump has previously threatened major strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure before backing down while claiming a deal is close, according to the report. The region's oil industry remains central to the standoff, with Saudi Arabia's state-owned producer Saudi Aramco reporting $111 billion in net income in 2018, according to Dennett's book. [15]
References
- "Trump: 'Unbelievably duplicitous' Iran begged for talks, now denies they're happening". The Times of Israel. August 3, 2026.
- "Iran and U.S. plan to hold new talks Monday, Trump said, but Iran said no talks are planned". Just The News. August 3, 2026.
- Alex MacDonald. "Iran denies talks with US as Trump halts strikes at the last minute". Middle East Eye. August 3, 2026.
- "Trump Calls Iran 'Unbelievably Duplicitous,' Confirms Ongoing US Blockade of Ports". The Epoch Times. August 3, 2026.
- "NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (August 3)". NTD. August 3, 2026.
- "Trump says Iran talks happening 'right now'". Middle East Eye. August 3, 2026.
- "Iran Denies US Talks, Says Negotiations Are With Oman on New Hormuz Route". The Epoch Times. August 3, 2026.
- "Rebuffing Trump, Iran insists no talks with US over Hormuz, strait staying closed". The Times of Israel. August 3, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "No Deal on Iran Why the Wests Unreasonable Demands Will Lead to Global Catastrophe". May 25, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "A High-Stakes Gambit: U.S. Blockades Critical Oil Chokepoint as Iran Talks Collapse". April 13, 2026.
- "Oil prices drop following Trump announcement on Iran talks". Middle East Eye. August 3, 2026.
- "Pentagon is emailing military experts and asking best way to 'punish' Iran: Report". Middle East Eye. August 3, 2026.
- "Threat to oil tankers in Middle East worst since start of Iran war, analysts say". BBC News. August 3, 2026.
- "Trump fumes over 'duplicitous' Iranian leadership". Just The News. August 3, 2026.
- Charlotte Dennett. "The Crash of Flight 3804".
- "Trump Lashes Out at Iranian Leadership After Tehran Says Talks With the US Aren’t Taking Place". News.Antiwar.com. August 3, 2206.
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