President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that there are no talks or conversations with Iran, and that the critical shipping route the Strait of Hormuz remains open, despite Iran’s claims that it was closed.
“There are no talks or conversations of any kind taking place, or scheduled to take place, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating, and all water mines have been removed or detonated,” Trump tweeted on Truth Social.
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said in statements carried by state media that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States lifts the naval blockade of Iranian ports, lifts sanctions on Iranian oil, unfrozes Iranian assets, and ends military operations against Iran, as specified in an interim deal between Iran and the U.S. in June.
The agreement expires on Monday after neither side could agree on a permanent deal. A senior Iranian official told Reuters agency that Iran was entering a “fully offensive” military posture after the breakdown of negotiations, but there were no reports of either side launching attacks on Tuesday
The prospects of an agreement with Iran sent oil prices soaring once again on Tuesday and caused stock markets to tumble, with bond yields for many developed countries, including the United States, reaching their highest levels in years, after concerns about the economic effects of the conflict.
Trump’s latest comments appear to mark a change in tone after he suggested on Monday that the United States was conducting secret talks with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Iran denied, and posted an image on Truth Social of the Strait of Hormuz marked as “New US Territory” after he threatened to take it over.
On Tuesday, a ship was attacked with a projectile while traveling through the strait, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, and the UAE reported that its air defenses had responded to two ballistic missiles launched from Iran.
