Washington/Dubai:
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that talks with Iran were happening and going to start. He called it a ” chance” for Tehran to sign a deal to end the five-month-old war. Irans Foreign Ministry said no negotiations were happening or planned. This created a difference in what the two sides said.
What Trump Said
Trump talked on Air Force One on Sunday. He said negotiations would start “tomorrow afternoon.” He did not say where or who would be there. The statement came after Trump said on Saturday night that he canceled an attack on Iran to let talks happen. The talks were meant to fix problems with the Strait of Hormuz and Irans nuclear program. He did not set a time to finish the deal. Later on Monday Trump said people would find out “today or tomorrow” how the talks with Iran were going. He added, “I want to give them every chance before decapitation. Very tough to do what we have planned still planned. We’ll see what happens.”
Irans Denial
Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei said Trumps claim was wrong. He said no talks with the United States were happening. He also said no meetings were planned. He said Iran has no plans to have visitors or send negotiators abroad in the next few days. He said all of Irans negotiators were in the country except Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was on a trip in Iraq. Baghaei said the only active discussions were with Oman about a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. He said the entry and exit lanes were almost done. Iran has said no to ideas about the strait.
Part of a Recurring Pattern
The conflicting statements on Monday fit a pattern that has happened since Trump started actions against Iran with Israel more than five months ago. Trump has often said he would attack but then said diplomatic talks were the reason for not going. On media Trump said U.S. Military pressure was a “Wall of Steel.” He said nothing would reach Iran unless the U.S. Allowed it. He said only a deal or “Total Surrender” would end the problem.
Regional Developments
Pakistans Foreign Ministry said Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi was invited to visit Pakistan. This came after a phone call between Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Araghchi about events. A bigger group from Lebanon was going to Rome for talks, with Israel. These talks were part of efforts to follow a deal made in Washington in June.
Note: This report is based on what U.S. And Iranian officials said. It was reported by news agencies. Because the two sides say things the situation is changing a lot.
