Iran says no talks with US

TEHRAN, Aug 3: Iran's foreign ministry said Monday there were currently no negotiations with the United States but talks were taking place with Oman on management of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"We are not currently negotiating with the United States. Our negotiations are with Oman to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz," said ministry spokesman EsmaeilBaqaei during a weekly press briefing.

Iran has kept control of Hormuz since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East on February 28.

It has insisted that ships transiting the waterway, which is crucial for the global energy trade, should use a route designated by Iran after requesting permission and paying service fees.

Baqaei described the talks with Oman as "constructive", saying they were aimed at reaching an agreement on a new route.

"We hope that both regional and extra-regional actors will appreciate this responsible move by Iran and adopt a constructive approach," he added.

He maintained Iran's position that as long as a US naval blockade on Iranian ports continues, "the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged".

Trump told reporters on Sunday that the new talks with Iran would cover Hormuz and ultimately the denuclearisation of Iran.

The US president said at the start of the conflict that the war was necessary to deal with Iran's nuclear programme. Western nations accuse Iran of seeking a bomb, though Tehran insists the programme is entirely civilian in nature.

"Now what we're doing is we're talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, without providing details of the venue or participants.

The president said he had been asked by Iran as well as US partners Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to hold off on further strikes, which he claimed would have been "the biggest attack since World War II".

Iranian media denied that Tehran had asked Trump not to strike.

Trump has repeatedly claimed a settlement to end the war is near, only for fighting to resume. He has previously issued apocalyptic warnings to Tehran, only to later backtrack by saying diplomacy was underway.�"AFP