US President Donald Trump says fresh negotiations with Iran will begin on Monday, days after announcing he had suspended planned military strikes against the country.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said discussions with Tehran would resume through negotiations rather than military action.
“We’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon,” Trump said.
The US president had earlier claimed on Truth Social that Iran and several US allies in the Middle East urged him to delay what he described as “massive” strikes because the framework of a deal had already been agreed.
Iran has not officially responded to Trump’s latest comments. However, the country’s semi-official Mehr News Agency dismissed his claim that Tehran requested a delay in military action, describing it as “nothing but a new lie.”
Trump Says Allies Urged Restraint
Trump said key regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, encouraged Washington to avoid launching strikes over the weekend.
He claimed their appeal was based on optimism that negotiations could succeed.
“We were all set to go,” Trump said.
“The reason they asked is they think there’s a deal.”
He added that discussions were progressing on both the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.
The US president declined to reveal where Monday’s talks would take place or who would participate. He also refused to set a deadline for reaching an agreement, saying only that the United States remained prepared to act if diplomacy failed.
“We’re ready to go anytime we want. I’m not looking to kill people,” he said.
Oil Prices Fall After Announcement
Global oil prices dropped sharply following Trump’s comments, as investors reacted positively to the prospect of renewed diplomacy.
Brent crude fell 4.5% to $83.98 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined 4.6% to $80.74. Energy markets have remained volatile since fighting between the United States and Iran escalated on 28 February. This is largely because of concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Remains Cautious
Despite Trump’s optimism, Iranian officials continue to strike a cautious tone. Acting Defence Minister Majid Ibn al-Reza warned that Tehran considered all military threats “real and credible.”
“We will neither be caught off guard nor remain passive,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz were progressing and nearing completion, according to Iranian media.
Diplomatic Efforts Face Uncertainty
Trump has repeatedly alternated between threatening military action and promoting diplomatic negotiations since the conflict began. On Saturday, he said US forces were “locked and loaded” for an attack on Iran at levels “not seen since World War II.”
He later argued that suspending the operation would benefit both global stability and Iran’s future. Earlier attempts at diplomacy also failed. In April, Trump warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” unless Iran entered peace talks. Although that threat led to direct negotiations in Pakistan led by Vice-President JD Vance, no agreement was reached.
The renewed push for diplomacy also comes as opinion polls indicate growing public concern in the United States. Mainly over the war’s economic impact ahead of November’s midterm elections.
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