Trump touts incoming peace deal with Iran even as Tehran signals defiance

President Trump said Monday that new negotiations will be Iran’s “last chance” for a decent deal and attacked the regime for what he said were “duplicitous” disavowals of his earlier assertions that a peace deal between the two countries could happen soon. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump said he expects negotiations to proceed smoothly from the early phases to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and eventually to total Iranian denuclearization. “The first phase is the opening of the straits, the second phase will be the denuclearization, and that will take a little while,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re very strong on it. They cannot have a nuclear weapon.” His optimism about a looming deal to end the Iran war stands in sharp contrast with comments by the regime. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters earlier Monday that the only diplomatic conversations Iran is maintaining are with Oman over creating an “understanding on a route that would ensure the safe passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.” He said the strait would remain mostly closed to commercial shipping until the U.S. ends its naval blockade and military aggression against Iran. SEE ALSO: Iran says no talks with U.S. expected despite Trump’s assurances Mr. Trump, similarly, insisted that the ongoing U.S. naval blockade of Iran would continue until a definitive deal or “total surrender.” In a social media post earlier in the day, Mr. Trump accused the Iranian government of saying one thing in private and another when speaking publicly. “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,’” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. Mr. Trump announced Saturday that he had called off a new round of strikes on Iran at the request of Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf partners that had been pulled into the conflict. He added on Monday that direct negotiations could be held this week. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon was “ready to go” with strikes on targets in Iran and was prepared to launch more attacks. The U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February. Mr. Trump declared that the operation would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and would foster regime change in the country. In response, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, using a combination of missiles, small boats, mines and drones. At least one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the waterway each year, and its closure has driven up energy prices globally. The cost of Brent crude oil, an international benchmark, dropped about 6% to around $83 per barrel Monday after Mr. Trump called off strikes on Iran and announced progress toward a peace deal over the weekend. Domestic gasoline prices in the U.S. remain high, however, with AAA reporting Monday that the average price for regular unleaded is about $4.10 per gallon. Although Iran insists it is not holding negotiations with the U.S., Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate phone calls with his Pakistani and Omani counterparts. Both countries have worked to mediate negotiations with the U.S. and Iran since the war began. Regional outlets also reported Monday that Pakistan plans to hold another round of discussions with the U.S. in Islamabad and intends to invite Mr. Araghchi and Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who participated in the last round of direct talks with Washington. The U.S. and Iran have held only one round of direct negotiations in the past five months. The talks, held in Switzerland in June, were intended to serve as the basis for a 60-day negotiation period, as outlined in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, also signed in June. However, the deal quickly broke down over varying interpretations of several provisions, including control over the Strait of Hormuz, the status of Iran’s frozen assets and a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon. The two sides have since returned to a familiar pattern of attacks and counterattacks, with U.S. Central Command targeting strategic targets along Iran’s coast and Tehran firing missiles at American military sites in the Middle East. The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade last month after a weeklong pause during which commercial traffic approached prewar levels. CENTCOM, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, said Monday that its forces had turned away 44 vessels since the blockade restarted. Despite the collapse of the agreement, Iran has continued to hold talks with Omani officials on a future agreement to govern the Strait of Hormuz. Iran wants to impose near-total control over the waterway, which would require transiting vessels to work directly with Iranian authorities to ensure safe passage. Ships would also need to pay transit fees to the proper authorities in Tehran. International response to future Iranian control over the strait has been roundly negative. U.S. officials insist that they would accept no deal that allows Tehran to maintain control over what was considered international waters before the war began.