US-Iran Peace Talks in Disarray: Tehran Slams Trump's Claim of 'Ongoing Negotiations'

US President Donald Trump last week abruptly canceled a 'large-scale military strike on Iran' and instead announced a return to negotiations. On the 3rd, he claimed that ceasefire talks with Iran were 'currently underway' and warned it was 'their last chance' to sign an agreement.

However, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, Tehran has strongly rejected Trump's claims, insisting that no dialogue has taken place or is planned with the US. Iran confirmed it is only discussing maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz via Oman. International strategic experts analyze that Iran is waging an economic war of attrition by threatening Persian Gulf shipping lanes and global energy security, suggesting it is not yet time for a final showdown.

Trump Accuses Tehran of 'Double-Speak'

On the 3rd, Trump reiterated in the Oval Office that US-Iran talks were 'currently underway,' emphasizing, 'This is their last chance to sign a good deal.' He revealed that over the weekend, he had approved the largest military strike since World War II, but paused it due to mediation by Middle Eastern allies who sought diplomatic space. Trump later posted online, claiming the negotiations were initiated at the request of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, and that 'the framework of the agreement has already been finalized.'

Iran's Foreign Ministry swiftly denied any contact with the US, rejecting Trump's assertion that 'talks are ongoing.' It stated clearly: 'Iran is not holding any talks with the US, nor are any planned.' The ministry emphasized that no Iranian delegation or negotiator has been sent to any meeting. Except for Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is visiting religious sites in Iraq, all of Iran's negotiation representatives are currently within Iran. In response, Trump posted online, harshly criticizing Iran's leadership as 'inconsistent and insincere,' accusing them of requesting talks while publicly denying them.

Trump stressed that the US Navy has erected a 'steel wall' in the Persian Gulf, declaring, 'Nothing gets into Iran unless we allow it. And nothing gets out unless we have a deal or Iran surrenders completely.'

Oman Mediates a 'Free Passage' Proposal

While denying direct talks with the US, Tehran confirmed it is negotiating with Oman over temporary passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to a mediator who spoke to The Wall Street Journal, the latest proposal allows commercial vessels heading to the Persian Gulf to enter through Iranian territorial waters and exit through Omani waters, without paying any tolls.

Iranian diplomats have responded positively to the plan but attached conditions, demanding clear US guarantees of 'no resumption of military strikes' and 'lifting of oil sanctions.' The mediator is currently awaiting a final response from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which holds real power in Tehran. Gulf officials have also insisted that any agreement must include security assurances that 'Iran and its proxies will not threaten their territories.' If this temporary agreement is reached, both sides will push to revive the previous 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Pakistan has also expressed willingness to host the next round of US-Iran talks.

However, Reuters points out that serious disagreements remain between the US and Iran over jurisdiction and passage rights in the Strait of Hormuz. The US claims the June-signed MOU requires Iran to open the strategic waterway, while Iran insists the MOU explicitly preserves Tehran's authority over maritime traffic. Iran has attempted to impose service fees on transiting vessels, which the US firmly rejects, reiterating that the Strait of Hormuz must remain an international waterway free from Iranian control.

'Tehran Believes It Still Has Cards to Play'

Since the US and Israel launched 'Operation Epic Fury,' a military strike on Iran over five months ago, Trump has repeatedly issued military threats but pulled back at the last moment. Several Gulf officials and think tank scholars analyze that Tehran believes it can outlast Washington economically and, since its core strategic goal is not a decisive military victory, continues to turn Middle Eastern trade routes and neighboring countries' energy infrastructure into pressure points. By gradually increasing the cost of confrontation, Iran aims to force concessions from the US.

Michael Knights, a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, analyzes that Iran has always sought to outmaneuver the US by expanding escalation options. 'Iran's biggest advantage is not in striking the US or Israel, but in harming regional countries and the global economy,' he said. Researcher Michael Singh noted that Tehran believes it still holds the upper hand, as the Trump administration appears hesitant about military action. Iran is trying to expand this advantage, establish sovereignty over the strait, and implement selective control.

Alan Eyre, a former State Department official and Iran expert, pointed out that Tehran is employing a deterrence strategy to force Washington to lift blockades and cease military strikes. Ray Takeyh, a CFR fellow and former State Department Iran advisor, bluntly stated: 'If negotiations do happen, Iran will define the terms. Right now, both sides are responding to escalation with escalation.' Gulf sources also believe that IRGC leaders see the upcoming US midterm elections and aim to exploit Trump's reluctance to get bogged down in another Middle East conflict to gain more leverage.

New Reports of Ship Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

Following Trump's signals of diplomatic outreach, international financial markets showed signs of easing. The Wall Street Journal reported that on the 3rd, international oil prices dropped about 5% in early trading to around $84 per barrel. Reuters reported that Brent crude futures in London fell about 7% to $83.77 per barrel, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record high.

However, shipping data and on-site security conditions indicate that navigation risks in the Strait of Hormuz remain. Shipping data firm Kpler noted that only six vessels (three tankers and three bulk carriers) passed through the strait on the 3rd, down from seven the previous day. The UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) reported that a vessel located 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman reported hearing explosion sounds near the ship. Fortunately, the crew and vessel were unharmed. The UK government has launched an investigation and advised transiting vessels to remain vigilant.