Washington, August 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that Iran would face severe consequences if the strategically important Strait of Hormuz is not reopened in the near future, even as Washington and Tehran offered conflicting accounts over the status of diplomatic engagement.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States was engaged in “very good discussions” with Iran but cautioned that the situation could escalate if maritime access through the Strait remained restricted.
“Iran will be hit very hard” if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened “very soon,” Trump said.
A day earlier, speaking from the Oval Office, the US President had claimed that negotiations were progressing rapidly and suggested the Strait could be reopened “literally by tomorrow.”
“We’re talking about the Strait, the opening of the Strait, having it open, literally by tomorrow. I mean they’re going to go quickly, one way or the other. It’s not very complex,” he had said.
However, Iran firmly rejected Trump’s assertion that talks were underway.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters in Tehran that no negotiations were currently taking place with the United States.
“We are not holding any negotiations with the United States at present,” Baqaei said, adding that, except for Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was on a pilgrimage to Iraq, all members of Iran’s negotiating team remained in the country.
Responding to Tehran’s denial, Trump accused the Iranian leadership of sending contradictory signals. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, he described Iran’s leadership as “unbelievably duplicitous,” claiming that while it had privately sought talks, it publicly denied any negotiations.
Despite rejecting direct talks with Washington, Baqaei confirmed that Iran was engaged in consultations with neighbouring Oman regarding maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the discussions are focused on a temporary arrangement to ensure safe navigation through the strategic waterway. He clarified that no other country was involved in the Muscat-Tehran consultations.
Trump also alleged that Iran had become concerned after details of a planned military operation were leaked and claimed Tehran had sought discussions regarding the Strait.
According to the report, a Memorandum of Understanding on reopening the Strait of Hormuz had been signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 17. However, the arrangement reportedly collapsed after renewed attacks on shipping in the Strait and the subsequent US blockade of Iranian ports.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, handling around one-fifth of global fossil fuel shipments, making any disruption a major concern for international energy markets and global trade.
FOLLOW NOW
