Iran Tensions Continue as Trump Insists Direct Talks Are Under Way
US President Donald Trump claims direct negotiations with Iran are under way and represent Tehran’s last chance to secure a deal to end the five-month conflict, even as Iranian officials deny any direct talks and tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran tensions have intensified as the president frames the current diplomatic efforts as a final opportunity before further escalation.
Trump Claims Active Iran Talks Represent Last Chance
US President Donald Trump has stated that direct negotiations with Iran are under way and described them as Tehran’s “last chance” to reach a deal ending the war. [1] He indicated the talks focus on fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz to the pre-war condition and warned that failure could lead to severe consequences for Iran. [3] Trump announced new talks for Monday after previously postponing what he called the largest US military attack since the Second World War. [3] He noted that a second phase of discussions would address the denuclearization of Iran, a process he acknowledged would take longer. [3]
Iran Denies Direct Negotiations
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei denied that any direct negotiations with Washington were ongoing or that any meetings were planned. [1] Baghaei clarified that talks over the management of the Strait of Hormuz remain mediated by Oman. [1] Iranian officials told the New York Times that discussions with Oman concern a preliminary shipping corridor in the waterway. [3] Trump accused Iran of dishonesty after these statements. [3]
Pakistan Moves to Broker Meeting in Islamabad
Pakistani and Qatari negotiators are working to secure a meeting date and venue between the parties. [1] On Monday, Pakistan issued an urgent invitation to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to visit Islamabad at his earliest convenience during a phone call with Pakistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Ishaq Dar. [1] The invitation appears aimed at renewing stalled Iran-US talks. [1]
Tensions Escalate Over Strait of Hormuz Blockade
Iran tensions have risen further as senior Iranian military adviser Mohsen Rezaei warned that US naval forces will face serious risks if the blockade on Iranian ports continues. [1] Rezaei stated that Iran will not permit a second corridor in the Strait of Hormuz. [1] Iran and Oman are close to finalizing a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, giving Tehran near total control. [1] A projectile struck a Liberian-flagged ship while it crossed the strait close to Oman’s coast, leaving at least one seafarer missing after the crew abandoned the vessel. [1] Rezaei added that American military vessels and forces will face serious risks and casualties if Washington’s naval blockade persists. [1]
Iran Aborts Planned Strikes on Ukraine
Mohsen Rezaei confirmed that Iran had prepared retaliatory strikes on three sites in Ukraine after a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian ship but scrapped the plan after Kyiv issued an apology. [1] Rezaei stated in an interview with Iranian state television that Tehran’s armed forces had completed preparations for the strikes before the operation was aborted. [1] The Ukrainian attack occurred on July 25 against a vessel transporting military cargo between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea, killing an Iranian sailor. [2] Ukraine’s Acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on July 28 and described the strike as unintentional. [4] Araghchi confirmed that Ukraine had assured him the action was not deliberate and that Kyiv did not intend to escalate the conflict. [4] Rezaei noted that even if the incident was a mistake, compensation would still be required. [2]
Oil Giants See Profits Surge From Conflict
The five-month US-Iran conflict has driven up oil and gas prices, more than doubling quarterly profits for BP and Shell and boosting Saudi Aramco’s net profits by 44 percent. [1] Shell confirmed it had doubled its net profit to almost $10bn in the three months to June. [1] The conflict began on 28 February when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. [3]
What to watch next: The seventh round of talks between Israel and Lebanon continues in Rome with a focus on Israeli violations of the conditional ceasefire, while UNIFIL reports ongoing daily Israeli overflights and military activity in southern Lebanon.
