Washington: US President Donald Trump has said that new talks with Iran will begin on Monday after he called off a planned “massive” military strike against Tehran, claiming that negotiations could lead to a deal.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said the talks would begin Monday afternoon and that Iran was aware of the planned attack after observing preparations. He said he was not seeking to kill people and would decide the next steps based on how negotiations progress.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran and US allies in the Middle East had urged him to delay the strike as the “perimeters” of an agreement had been reached. However, Iran has not confirmed his claims, with the semi-official Mehr news agency calling the statement “a new lie.”
Trump said leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and officials from the UAE and Qatar, encouraged him not to launch strikes, believing a deal on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme was possible.
Following the announcement, global oil prices fell, with Brent crude dropping 4.5 per cent. Oil markets had remained volatile due to concerns over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 per cent of global crude oil and LNG supplies pass.
Iranian officials said they remained prepared for any threat, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said separate talks with Oman on a Strait of Hormuz agreement were progressing. Trump has not yet announced the venue or participants for the upcoming discussions.
