The president of the United States, Donald Trump, said on Sunday (27) that he expects a new round of negotiations with Iran this week. The signal comes one day after the American president rejected the latest proposal presented by Tehran to advance a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement was given in a telephone interview to Axios and subsequently reported by Reuters and Bloomberg. According to two regional sources heard by the American site, the indirect talks could be resumed as early as Monday (28).
“They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal I want to make,” Trump told Axios. According to the American president, the terms presented by Iran would be something Washington might have accepted about a year ago. Trump also said that Tehran exaggerated its position in the negotiations.”
The signal comes a few days after Trump stated that negotiations with Iran were ongoing and that he believed a deal was possible.
Negotiations continue despite rejection
The United States and Iran held last week a round of indirect negotiations on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participated in the conversations with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with Qatari authorities acting as intermediaries.
Tehran presented conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to resume negotiations on its nuclear program. The proposal envisaged progress within seven days if Washington lifted the naval blockade, rolled back sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and restored a ceasefire in the region, according to Axios.
Trump rejected the proposal on Saturday. On the same day, he again stated that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon, one of the main points of divergence between Washington and Tehran.
Despite the American rejection, contacts were not interrupted.
An American official and two regional sources told Axios that representatives from Qatar continue to hold separate talks with the two governments in an effort to bridge the positions.
Qatari authorities could meet again separately with Araghchi and Witkoff as early as Monday.
Hormuz remains at the center of the impasse
The priorities of the two sides are still different. Iran seeks to concentrate negotiations on the status of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. naval blockade, while Washington presses for concessions related to Iran’s nuclear program.
Araghchi stated on Sunday that Tehran remains interested in a diplomatic solution. According to him, despite the rejection publicly announced by Trump, Iran was still awaiting an official response transmitted by the mediators. Reuters also reported on Sunday that Tehran continues to advocate a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
“We are ready for negotiations,” said the Iranian foreign minister to NBC, according to Axios.
The prospect of an understanding between the two countries has caused sharp fluctuations in the markets, especially in oil. On Friday the 25th, Brent fell on the news of new negotiations between the United States and Iran in New York.
Days earlier, the market had already reacted to the possibility of reopening the strait, prompting investors to discuss whether oil could stay below $100.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the main pressure points in the dispute. The passage is strategic for international oil trade, and any change in the flow of ships could affect the global supply of the commodity.
Trump told Axios that more than 20 million barrels of oil crossed the strait over the weekend, the largest movement since the start of the conflict. According to the site, an American official said that about 22 million barrels passed along the route on Friday night.
Even with the differences over the terms of a deal, Washington and Tehran maintain indirect channels of dialogue through regional mediators. The expectation now turns to a possible new round of talks this week.
(With information from Bloomberg, Reuters, Axios, Times of Israel and Jerusalem Post)
