Trump Says New Iran Talks Set to Start After Calling Off Massive Attack

“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 Aug. 2.

He did not provide details about the venue or participants.

Trump said the talks would cover the Strait of Hormuz and, ultimately, what he described as the “denuclearization of Iran.” Western countries accuse Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons, while Iran maintains that its program is entirely peaceful.

The U.S. president said Iran and Washington’s Gulf partners Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar had asked him to hold off on the planned attack, which he described as potentially “the biggest attack since World War II.”

Iranian media denied that Tehran had made such a request.

Iran has not confirmed direct talks with Washington. Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, said mediators were seeking to revive a U.S.-Iran memorandum reached in June.

“The main issue and, in fact, the key to the matter right now is the Strait of Hormuz, so yes, there is an exchange of views,” he said.

Iran separately said it was close to an agreement with Oman on establishing a new shipping route through the strait.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the proposed corridor would be acceptable to both countries and respect their sovereign rights and security. He stressed, however, that an agreement with Oman would not mean reopening the strait.

Oil prices fell in early Asian trading following Trump’s announcement, with West Texas Intermediate crude dropping 4.7 percent to $80.72 a barrel.

Meanwhile, a tanker off Oman reported hearing an explosion close to the vessel on Aug. 2, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. The ship and its crew were reported safe.