US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran are set to resume on Monday, but declined to impose a deadline for reaching an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday while returning to Washington from New Jersey, Trump said discussions would begin on Monday afternoon but did not disclose where the talks would take place or who would participate.
When asked whether Iran had a deadline to reach an agreement, Trump avoided giving a direct answer.
“I’d rather make a deal. I’m not looking to kill people because people die, a lot of people die, and we don’t want that,” he said.
Trump’s remarks came a day after he claimed on his Truth Social platform that he had called off an imminent military strike after Iran and several Middle Eastern countries requested more time to finalise a deal.
He said the proposed agreement would lead to the immediate and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz while addressing what he described as Iran’s nuclear threat, urging Tehran to “rapidly make a deal.”
The latest comments mark another shift in Trump’s approach after repeatedly warning of further military action against Iran while simultaneously extending opportunities for diplomacy.
The conflict has spread beyond the Gulf region to the Red Sea and even a facility in Egypt, raising fears of broader regional instability.
Iran has largely restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route that normally handles about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, causing global energy prices to rise and fuelling inflation concerns.
Oil prices, however, fell by more than 4% in early trading on Monday as hopes of renewed negotiations eased market concerns.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held separate phone discussions with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir on diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA also reported that negotiations with Oman over issues related to the Strait of Hormuz were nearing completion.
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei clarified that the talks were focused on establishing a new shipping route and were not directly linked to reopening or closing the Strait of Hormuz.
On the Israeli side, Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Israel remained in close coordination with the United States on regional security matters.
He warned that regardless of whether an agreement is reached, Israel would take military action if Iran resumed its nuclear programme or advanced its ballistic missile capabilities.
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Washington last week to discuss possible ways of curbing Iran’s nuclear programme through diplomacy, economic pressure or military action.
Iran has consistently denied allegations that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
