President Donald Trump has described the latest diplomatic efforts with Iran as the country’s “last chance” to end the conflict that has continued for nearly five months. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump claimed that negotiations were currently underway at the request of Iran as well as regional countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
According to Trump, the ongoing contacts present an opportunity for Tehran to reach an agreement before the crisis escalates further. “This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” he said, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the preferred path despite continuing military tensions.
Earlier in the day, Trump also wrote on Truth Social that Iran’s leadership was being “unbelievably duplicitous” by publicly denying negotiations while, according to him, discussions were taking place behind the scenes. He maintained that talks were continuing regardless of Tehran’s public position.
Iran, however, has firmly rejected those claims. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Tuesday that Iran would continue to defend its territorial integrity but had no intention of widening the conflict. Iranian state media quoted him as saying that the country seeks security without expanding hostilities.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also dismissed reports of direct negotiations with Washington. During a press briefing on Monday, he said Tehran has no immediate plans for talks with the United States and clarified that its current diplomatic engagement is limited to discussions with Oman concerning navigation and security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest developments follow Trump’s decision to suspend what he had earlier described as “massive attacks” on Iran in order to create space for diplomatic efforts. That announcement initially eased fears in global energy markets and pushed oil prices lower.
However, uncertainty over whether meaningful negotiations are actually taking place has revived concerns among investors. As optimism faded, oil prices recovered on Tuesday. Brent crude rose to around $85.23 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed to approximately $81.38 per barrel, reflecting continued anxiety over possible disruptions to energy supplies in the Middle East.
The conflicting narratives from Washington and Tehran underscore the fragile nature of the current situation, with diplomacy and military pressure continuing to shape both regional security and global energy markets.
