U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that talks with Iran will begin Monday as efforts continue to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz but he declined to set a deadline for reaching an agreement.
Trump, who returned to Washington Sunday, told reporters that talks would begin Monday afternoon but did not specify where or who would participate. “Would I like to do a deal? When asked whether Iran had a deadline for reaching an agreement, he said, I’m not trying to kill people, because people die. A lot of people die and we don’t want that.”
Earlier, Trump had said on Truth Social that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries asked for more time to reach a deal that would result in “the Immediate, Complete and Total” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” while declaring that Tehran must “rapidly make a DEAL.”
The talks come after months of rising tensions following the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas, by Tehran has pushed up energy prices, although oil prices fell by more than 4% in early trading on Monday amid renewed hopes for diplomacy.
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Meanwhile, Iran stepped up its diplomatic activity, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi holding meetings with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Iranian officials also said the talks with Oman on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz are close to being finalized, emphasizing the negotiations are ”no link to the Strait of Hormuz being opened or closed. That’s a separate discussion.
Even with the diplomatic efforts, Israel stuck to its hardline position. Energy Minister Eli Cohen warned, “Whether or not there is an agreement, and regardless of any outside commitments, if Iran tries to renew its nuclear program or advance its ballistic missile industries, we will be there. We will act, and we will hit.”
Last week, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Washington to discuss diplomatic, economic and military options to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, while Tehran continues to deny pursuing nuclear weapons.
