Trump Announces New US-Iran Talks for Monday

US President Donald Trump announced that talks with Iran would begin on Monday afternoon but declined to say where they would take place or who would participate. He also refused to set a deadline for reaching an agreement.

Trump said on Truth Social on Saturday that he had called off an imminent attack after Iran and other Middle Eastern countries asked for time to complete a deal. He said it should lead to the immediate and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and end Iran’s nuclear threat, but warned Tehran that it must reach an agreement rapidly.

Asked whether he would prefer an agreement, Trump said: “Would I 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.”

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke by phone with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir about diplomatic efforts.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that negotiations between Tehran and Oman on a new route through the Strait of Hormuz were in their final stages. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the talks had no connection to whether the strait would be opened or closed.

Reports of renewed diplomatic efforts helped push oil prices down by more than 4% in early trading on Monday.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Israel would act if Iran attempted to renew its nuclear program or advance its ballistic missile industries, regardless of any agreement. Tehran denies seeking a nuclear weapon.

(Reuters, lud)