Iran denies Trump's claim fresh talks will begin today after president holds off on strikes
The US was "locked and loaded" for another set of strikes but held off so talks could begin on Monday, Trump said
Iran has denied Donald Trump's claim that more peace talks will begin on Monday after he called off a fresh wave of strikes.
Listen to this article
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said today that Tehran is not holding any talks with the US despite President Trump claiming otherwise.
Mr Baghaei said discussions are being held with Oman instead over a temporary route ships can use to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
It comes after Trump said the US was "locked and loaded" but had been asked to "hold off" on any imminent attack because the "perimeters of a deal has been agreed to".
Oil prices have dropped to a three-week low after Trump cancelled thr strikes.
Brent crude oil fell below 83 US dollars (£61.73) a barrel on Monday, down nearly 6%.At one stage it fell to a low of about 81.50 dollars (£60.61) a barrel – the lowest level in three weeks.
The US President has repeatedly vowed that the end of the conflict is nearing and said on Air Force One overnight that the two nations are to begin negotiations again.
Trump told reporters: "They knew the extent of the attack because they saw it forming.
"We're talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins [Monday] afternoon."
The announcement from the US president sparked fresh hopes among investors that the Strait of Hormuz transit route could be reopened.
In a TruthSocial post, the president said the proposed agreement included the "complete and total" reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and would put an end to Iran's "nuclear threat".
It comes after the US Central Command (Centcom) said it struck “dozens” of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in retaliation for Iran’s attack on US bases in Jordan and at ships in the Strait.
The latest strikes killed three people, including a two-year-old child, on Qeshm Island, Iranian state media reported. Other locations were also hit in the south and west of the country.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that an end to the war is near but each time has been followed by further strikes by each nation.
While speaking on Air Force One, Trump declined to outline a deadline for a deal to be struck with Iran.
He added: "We'll just see how it is. We're ready to go anytime we want, Im not looking to kill people."
Shedding more light on the scheduled strikes that were blocked, Trump said that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and US partners including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar had urged him against it.
He said: "We were all set to go. The reason they asked is [that] they think there's a deal.
"There's a deal on Hormuz, and there will be a deal on the nuclear."
His full post on TruthSocial read: "The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II.
"Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.
"This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.
"Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL.
"The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
Following the announcement, Brent Crude oil prices fell by 4.5% at $83.98 (£62.26).
In response, however, Iranian news agency Mehr said Trump's claims were a "nothing but a new lie".
But its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi did say that negotiations with Oman on a deal on the Strait of Hormuz were "on track for finalisation".