Iran has confirmed it is holding talks with Oman to establish a temporary safe route through the strategic Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, while explicitly denying claims by US President Donald Trump that direct peace talks were set to resume.
The Iranian foreign ministry clarified on Monday that Tehran is not negotiating with Washington, following statements from Trump suggesting that a new round of talks to end the conflict would begin in the afternoon and that he had paused “massive” planned military strikes.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that negotiations were taking place exclusively with regional mediator Oman to reach “an understanding over a path to ensure the security of shipping passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Shipping disruptions and market impact
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint through which roughly 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes, has experienced repeated closures and security disruptions since military hostilities involving the US, Israel, and Iran escalated in February.
- Market Reaction: Global oil prices dropped on Monday following news of potential movement on the shipping corridor. Brent Crude fell by 4.5% to $83.98 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate decreased by 4.6% to $80.74.
- Maritime Data: Intelligence firm Kpler recorded 51 commercial vessel crossings through the strait between 30 July and 2 August—a 28% drop compared to the preceding four-day period.
Divergent narratives on military strike pause
Speaking aboard the Air Force One on Sunday, President Trump claimed he called off planned strikes after regional partners—including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar—urged restraint due to potential progress on a deal covering Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, Iranian state media dismissed claims that Tehran had requested a military pause, characterizing the assertions as unfounded.
Efforts to secure a lasting cease-fire have remained stalled since previous talks collapsed last month, despite ongoing shuttle diplomacy mediated by Gulf states.
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