US President Donald Trump has said Washington and Tehran are moving closer to a potential agreement , claiming there are “major points of agreement” between the two sides, despite firm denials from Iran that any negotiations are taking place.
Trump insisted that Iran had initiated contact and that both sides “want to make a deal”, he told reporters at a Florida airport after announcing on his Truth Social Platform the decision to grant Iran five more days to reopen the Strait of Hormuz .
He outlined a series of US conditions he said were central to ongoing discussions, including curbs on Iran’s ballistic missile programme, a complete halt to uranium enrichment, the surrender of enriched uranium stockpiles, and a broader commitment to regional stability.
Trump said the emerging framework would result in “no nuclear weapons without any type of enrichment” - a strikingly similar proposal to the one put forward by Omani mediators three weeks prior.
While acknowledging that no agreement is guaranteed, he said talks were progressing and would continue by phone later on Monday.
According to Trump, negotiations on the US side are being led by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner. He also claimed to be in contact with a “high-level figure” in Iran, though he declined to name the individual, saying he did not want to endanger them.
However, Iranian officials have categorically rejected Trump’s account. A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry told state news agency IRNA that no direct or indirect talks with the United States were underway, and that Tehran’s position, particularly regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz, remained unchanged.
Iranian political figures have also dismissed reports of backchannel negotiations. The country’s parliament speaker denied involvement , describing the claims as “fake news” aimed at influencing global oil and financial markets .
Trump’s comments come amid a volatile standoff in the Gulf, where Iran has effectively disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. The crisis has driven global market uncertainty and prompted threats of US military action.
In recent days, Trump has said the US is postponing planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure to allow space for diplomacy, describing earlier exchanges as “very good and productive”.
At the same time, the president hinted at the possibility of significant political change in Iran. He suggested that control of the Strait of Hormuz could eventually be shared between the US and a future Iranian leadership, adding that there could be “a big change in the regime”, drawing comparisons to Venezuela and the abduction of Nicolas Maduro.
Trump also indicated that sanctions on Iranian oil exports at sea had been temporarily eased, arguing that allowing limited sales would not significantly affect the broader conflict.
Israel has not issued an official response to Trump’s remarks, but its military campaign against Iranian targets has continued, including reported strikes in and around Tehran.
While there has been no confirmation of any shift in Israeli strategy, some reports have suggested that Tel Aviv may be avoiding direct attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure , even as it maintains pressure on other military and strategic sites.
Trump said he believed Israel would ultimately support any agreement reached by his administration, though Israeli officials have yet to publicly endorse the outline he described.
Despite Trump’s optimistic tone, the gap between Washington and Tehran remains wide. Iran continues to demand concessions, including a US withdrawal from the region and compensation for war damage, conditions Washington has so far rejected.
With both sides offering sharply conflicting narratives, it remains unclear whether meaningful negotiations are underway or whether the claims reflect competing strategies to shape diplomatic and market dynamics as tensions persist.