Trump says US-Iran talks ongoing, calls it Tehran's 'last chance'
US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran are continuing despite Tehran's denials, warning that Iran faces a 'last chance' before possible escalation. The discussions centre on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and curbing Iran's nuclear programme.
President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that negotiations with Iran are still underway, even as Iranian officials insist no such talks are taking place. He said he agreed to continue the dialogue at the request of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other regional partners. 'We are talking right now,' Trump said, adding that Tehran has a 'last chance' to sign a good document before 'decapitation'.
Washington and Tehran have been locked in conflict since late February, when the US and Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran. Despite intermittent diplomatic efforts, Iran has retained the ability to strike US and allied targets with missiles and drones and still holds stockpiles of enriched uranium. Last week, Trump threatened severe retaliation, possibly targeting energy infrastructure, but pulled back on Saturday, saying the 'perimeters' of a deal were visible.
The future of the Strait of Hormuz remains a key sticking point. Iran has reimposed a blockade since the ceasefire collapsed, hindering vessel traffic and firing on commercial ships. Tehran now wants to keep control of the waterway and impose fees, a position Washington rejects. Iran also refuses to allow ships to use any route other than along its own coast. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said talks with Oman, not the US, were focused on securing passage through the strait. On Sunday, he said an understanding on a mutually acceptable route was close, though he stressed that would not mean reopening the waterway.
Trump accused Iran of being 'duplicitous' for denying negotiations, writing on social media that Washington's counter-blockade means nothing reaches Iran without US consent. He reiterated that Iran's denuclearisation 'has to happen,' referring to Western concerns about Tehran's nuclear ambitions, which Iran insists are civilian. Over the weekend, Trump said Iran and regional partners had asked him to hold off further strikes, claiming the planned attack would have been the largest since World War II — an assertion Iranian media rejected. Meanwhile, a tanker off Oman reported hearing an explosion nearby on Sunday; the ship and crew were safe. A previous ceasefire designed to reopen the strait collapsed last month.
