While the American president claims peace talks begin today, Tehran says it is only negotiating with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM, meanwhile, seeks 'unconventional' ways to punish Iran.
US President Donald Trump announced a new round of talks with Iranian representatives for Monday, August 3, 2026, but Tehran immediately denied it. Iran's Foreign Ministry and its spokesman Esmail Baghaei explicitly stated that negotiations with the United States are not underway.
As reported by Reuters, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington from New Jersey that negotiations with Iran would begin Monday afternoon, but he did not provide details on the location or participants. When asked about a deadline for reaching an agreement, he did not give a direct answer.
"Would I rather reach a deal? I don't want to kill people, because people are dying, a lot of people are dying, and we don't want that," Trump said, according to Reuters.
On Saturday evening, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that he had agreed to abandon plans for a strong strike on Iran in order to reach a deal. According to him, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked Washington not to attack because the parameters of an agreement had already been set. "This would include the immediate, full, and complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the end of Iran's nuclear threat," Trump added.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei categorically denied Trump's claims. "We are not currently conducting negotiations with the United States. Talks are with Oman and are focused on the Strait of Hormuz," Baghaei said.
According to Italy's ANSA news agency, Baghaei clarified that the two countries are seriously conducting negotiations to ensure navigational safety in the strait. "We are currently holding talks with Oman solely about the management of the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
Baghaei also warned of broader regional implications of US actions. "The United States' war against Iran is a war against the entire region, and it is important for the countries of the region to know that they bear part of the responsibility in the current situation," he stated, referring to Saudi Arabia's call for Washington to end the conflict. ANSA earlier reported that Trump had halted heavy US strikes planned for the weekend against Iran under pressure from Gulf allies and mediators.
"The United States has caused insecurity in the region, but it has been proven that Iran's deterrence has stopped the enemy," added the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman.
As diplomatic signals diverge, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has asked military analysts to develop new ideas for pressuring Iran. "We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran," a CENTCOM intelligence officer wrote in a message to a group of analysts, as reported by CNN.
According to a source close to Fox News, CENTCOM is ready to consider any new proposals because the US military believes the strategy toward Iran requires reassessment. CNN notes that this request highlights the limited and potentially politically unacceptable options available to the administration in Washington.
The US and Israel launched a war against Iran in late February 2026. Trump has repeatedly threatened to escalate military operations but then allowed additional time for negotiations, which have so far not resulted in a comprehensive agreement. His softening stance, after several days of threats of new attacks from both sides, represents the latest twist in the conflict.
Iran's foreign minister further confirmed that current discussions with Oman are focused on ensuring the safe passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as also confirmed by Turkey's Anadolu agency.
