Iran denies US talks after Trump cancels strikes and announces negotiations

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that new negotiations with Iran would begin later that day, aimed at winding down the conflict and reviving cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, which carried about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas before the war, has been a flashpoint in tensions between the two countries. Trump’s announcement followed his decision to call off military strikes he had threatened against Iran.

Iran’s foreign ministry denied that any talks were underway or planned. The statement, reported by Iranian state media, directly contradicted Trump’s claim. Trump had described the cancelled strikes as "the biggest attack since World War II", though he did not specify what targets or scale were involved. The Associated Press reported that Trump called off the strikes after appeals from Gulf allies.

Trump cited the planned talks as his reason for cancelling the military action. The proposed negotiations would focus on de-escalating the conflict and restoring cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has previously announced large-scale strikes on Iran, only to cancel them at the last minute, a pattern that has persisted over the past five months.

Disagreement over whether talks are underway

The reports disagree on whether negotiations between the US and Iran are actually taking place. Trump said talks would begin on Monday, as reported by Orissa Post. Iran’s foreign ministry, quoted by Iranian state media and reported by Orissa Post and the Indian Express, said no talks were underway and no meetings were planned.

What the coverage left out

No centre- or right-rated outlet ran this story at all. None of the digests below mention the specific appeals from Gulf allies that Trump reportedly received before cancelling the strikes. The left-rated digest from the Indian Express is the only one to include this detail.