Donald Trump says the US and Iran are set to resume negotiations on Monday after he halted what he described as a massive military operation, signalling another attempt to end months of escalating conflict through diplomacy instead of force.
US President Donald Trump has announced that fresh negotiations with Iran are expected to begin on Monday, just a day after revealing he had cancelled what he described as a planned large-scale military attack against the country.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said diplomatic contacts had resumed and expressed confidence that discussions would begin within hours.
“We’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon,” Trump said, adding that the US remained ready to act militarily if talks failed but insisted he was “not looking to kill people.”
The president said Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, along with leaders from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, urged Washington to delay military action because they believed a diplomatic breakthrough was within reach.
SEE ALSO: Trump Suspends Planned Iran Strikes, Says Deal Could Be Reached ‘Rapidly’
According to Trump, negotiations are expected to focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route and resolving concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme. However, he did not disclose where the talks would be held or who would participate.
Iran has yet to officially respond to Trump’s latest remarks. However, the country’s semi-official Mehr News Agency rejected his claim that Tehran had requested the US to postpone military action, calling the assertion “nothing but a new lie.”
Despite the denial, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly said negotiations with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were progressing and nearing completion, suggesting diplomatic channels remain active.
Financial markets reacted positively to Trump’s comments. Global oil prices fell sharply in early Asian trading on Monday, with Brent crude dropping about 4.5% and US benchmark crude falling 4.6%, as investors anticipated reduced risks to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
The announcement comes after months of escalating military exchanges between Washington and Tehran following the collapse of a ceasefire in June. While Trump has repeatedly alternated between military threats and diplomatic outreach, Monday’s planned talks could represent the most significant opportunity in weeks to prevent another major escalation in the Middle East.
