Iran Denies US Talks Are Back On After Trump Pauses Strikes
President Donald Trump's claim that talks between the US and Iran are back on has been denied by Tehran. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at a news conference that 'at present, we are not having any negotiations with the US.'
This contradicts Trump's statement over the weekend that he had agreed to hold off on planned strikes and that talks would resume after a framework agreement was reached.
The agreement, according to Trump, would include the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat. However, Baghaei said Iran is in talks with Oman only 'on reaching an understanding on a route for the safe passage of shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz.'
Trump fired back at Iran, calling its leaders 'unbelievably duplicitous!' and stating that Iran was secretly engaging in negotiations. He also reiterated his claim that Iran would never have a nuclear weapon.