Iran denies talks with US. Negotiations underway with Oman

Iran's foreign ministry said Monday there were no current talks with the United States and no plans to exchange delegations, contradicting Donald Trump's claim that talks would take place that day, The Guardian reported.

Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters at a weekly press briefing that Iran was not currently holding any talks with the US, Reuters reported, according to the live blog. Baghaei said there were no plans to receive a delegation or send an Iranian one.

Baghaei said Iran's current focus was on negotiations with Oman over the strait of Hormuz. “We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides – neither the northern route nor the southern route – but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security,” he told Iranian state television.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday that he had decided to hold off on ordering new US strikes against Iran at the urging of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, including after a call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “I said to the crown prince, ‘What would you rather do? Would you rather us do this or not?’” Trump said. “They said we would much prefer a deal as opposed to an attack, because you don’t know where these attacks lead.”

Separately, CNN reported that an officer in the intelligence branch of US Central Command sent a message to a broad group of military analysts “looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran.” The Guardian said the email went out on Wednesday, before Trump threatened new strikes and then backed down after speaking with Mohammed bin Salman.