Iran Rejects Trump Claims on Talks and Asserts Control Over Strait of Hormuz
Tensions between the United States and Iran have intensified following conflicting statements regarding potential peace talks and the operational control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. While US President Donald Trump claimed that discussions were underway to reopen the waterway, Iranian officials have firmly denied participating in negotiations with Washington.
Mohsen Rezaee, a senior military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, declared on Monday that Tehran will not permit any shipping route through the strategic waterway other than the one designated by the Islamic Republic. Rezaee's statement directly rejected President Trump's assertions regarding a coordinated reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Rejects US Assertions on Shipping Routes
According to Rezaee, the United States had previously accepted Iran's arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). However, he accused Washington of subsequently violating the agreement.
Rezaee stated that the US not only breached the MoU but also launched attacks without first referring the dispute to the designated dispute resolution panel. Consequently, Tehran maintains that it will strictly enforce its own designated routes for maritime traffic through the passage.
Dispute Over Scheduled Negotiations
The operational dispute coincides with a diplomatic row over proposed talks. President Trump heavily criticized the Iranian leadership, branding them as "unbelievably duplicitous." Trump claimed that officials from Tehran had requested talks to end the conflict, only to later announce that no such discussions would take place.
Trump had previously announced that the two sides were scheduled to hold talks on Monday afternoon, raising hopes of de-escalation weeks after hostilities resumed. However, the Islamic Republic denied the existence of any such dialogue with Washington.
Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei clarified Tehran's stance to reporters, stating, "We currently do not have negotiations with America." Baghaei added that Iran has no plans to send a delegation or negotiators abroad in the coming days. Instead, Tehran confirmed it is holding discussions with Oman to establish a temporary safe route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Maritime Incident Reported Near Oman
As diplomatic friction persists, security in the region remains volatile. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident 20 nautical miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman.
According to the UKMTO, a cargo vessel broadcast an emergency message over VHF channel 16 stating that it had been struck by an unknown projectile. No further details regarding casualties or the extent of the damage were immediately available.
Oil Markets React to Trump Warnings
Global oil markets remained steady following a sharp decline, as traders monitored the geopolitical developments. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) hovered around $80 a barrel after falling more than 5% on Monday, while Brent crude closed near $84 per barrel in the previous session.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump described his latest offer for negotiations as Tehran's "last chance" to sign an agreement. "We're talking about the strait, the opening of the strait, having it open literally by tomorrow," Trump said.
The US President added, "This is a last chance for them to sign a good document," warning that he wanted to offer a final opportunity "before decapitation." Trump did not clarify which specific negotiations he was referring to or identify the parties involved in the purported discussions.
