Washington, August 4, 2026 — US President Donald Trump has said newly planned talks with Tehran are Iran’s “last chance” to forge a deal and avoid an escalation of American strikes on the country, marking what he described as a final opportunity to end the five-month-old conflict.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said negotiations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and creating a path for Iran to address US concerns over its nuclear programme could begin within the next day or two. He said Gulf pressure and Iranian outreach had bought time as Washington weighed further strikes.
Trump also warned that if Iran resists a deal that meets US demands, the option of a “massive attack” — which he claimed was held off over the weekend at the request of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar — remains on the table.
However, Iranian officials have contradicted Trump’s assertion that direct or indirect talks are underway. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran is currently in discussions with Oman about a temporary safe route through the Strait of Hormuz, but denied that negotiations with the United States are taking place.
The back-and-forth comes as regional tensions remain high, with both sides exchanging statements over whether a breakthrough is possible. Trump has repeatedly threatened major military action in recent weeks, only to pause or call off strikes after claiming progress in talks.
