Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments. While the US has indicated that talks with Iran were scheduled, Tehran has denied engaging in direct negotiations.

On Saturday, President Trump announced he had called off a planned military operation against Iran after appeals for restraint from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. He stated that these countries urged diplomacy to allow mediators time to broker a new deal concerning the Strait of Hormuz and "the denuclearisation of Iran." Trump also indicated that talks with Iran were set to begin on Monday afternoon.

However, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baqai, refuted the assertion of direct talks with the US, stating there were no plans for delegations to be exchanged. Baqai indicated that Iran was instead engaged in "constructive" negotiations with Oman, focused on "a path to ensure the security of shipping passage through the Strait of Hormuz."

Baqai further suggested that any agreement on new arrangements would be "necessary but not sufficient" to reopen the strait, implying that Iran would maintain restrictions on shipping as long as the US maintained a blockade of Iranian ports.

In response to Iran's statements, President Trump posted on Truth Social, describing Iran's leadership as "unbelievably duplicitous." He asserted that Iran had requested a meeting and that further discussions were scheduled for the "immediate future."

Ongoing Mediation Efforts

At a news conference in Doha on Tuesday, a spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed that mediation efforts involving Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman are "still ongoing with all the parties" and are in "very progressive stages."

"We are co-ordinating very closely with the Omanis to facilitate the talks between both sides, exchanging ideas, drafts between both sides," the spokesman, Ansari, told reporters. "Our focus right now is on avoiding escalation, reopening the strait and reopening the door for diplomacy between the parties."

Ansari also clarified that there was "not anything on the books as far as direct talks."

A senior Pakistani security official corroborated this, telling Reuters news agency, "A lot is happening in the background... We are talking to both sides."

Details of any potential agreement between Iran and Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz have not been publicly released by the involved countries or the mediators.

Earlier reports from Iranian officials, cited by The New York Times, suggested that an agreement might involve inbound shipping using a route controlled by Iran near its coast, and outbound shipping using a route near Oman's coast. These reports also indicated the inclusion of a "service fee" for environmental impact, security, and staffing. A US official, however, told the newspaper that this account was inaccurate and that any temporary routes would not require Iranian approval or involve tolls.