ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday accused Iran's leadership of acting "unbelievably duplicitous," claiming Tehran has privately sought negotiations while publicly denying any direct talks with Washington, as tensions persist over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged that Iranian officials had requested meetings and that further talks were scheduled, despite Tehran's public insistence that it is not negotiating with the United States.
"Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous," Trump wrote, adding that while Iran claims it is only dealing with Oman, the United States already controls maritime access to the Strait of Hormuz through what he described as a U.S. naval "Wall of Steel." He warned that "nothing gets through" to Iran unless a deal is reached or Tehran agrees to what he called "total surrender," reiterating that "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."
Trump's remarks followed two days of relative de-escalation. Over the weekend, he said he had postponed a major planned U.S. military strike after appeals from regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which urged additional time for diplomacy. Trump also said discussions aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran's nuclear activities were expected to continue on Monday.
Iran has firmly rejected Trump's claims of direct negotiations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran is not holding talks with Washington and is instead coordinating with Oman on arrangements for a temporary maritime navigation corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials have maintained that the strategic waterway will not return to its pre-conflict status and have linked any broader reopening to an end to what they describe as U.S. aggression.
Meanwhile, a commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces said military units in northwestern Iran remain on high alert and are prepared to deliver a "decisive response" to any threat.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry also said Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss regional and international developments, including the situation in occupied East Jerusalem. Dar invited Araghchi to visit Pakistan at the earliest opportunity.
