U.S. President Donald Trump said that new talks between the United States and Iran represent Tehran’s last chance to reach a deal before it faces what he described as “decapitation.”
Trump reiterated the remarks on Monday while speaking to reporters in Washington, stressing that talks with Iran were continuing despite Tehran’s denial that negotiations were taking place. He said Iran had a final opportunity to sign an agreement concerning the situation around the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear weapons program.
“We are talking right now. This is their last chance to sign a good document. I want to give them every possible opportunity before they are decapitated,” he said.
President Trump said he agreed to continue talks with Iran after being urged to do so by countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and other countries in the region.
Trump said the talks with Iran should focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway used to transport oil and other goods around the world.
Trump said the issue could be resolved “even tomorrow,” but added that the matter of eliminating Iran’s capabilities related to its nuclear weapons program could take longer.
The United States and Iran have been at war since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran.
Despite Trump’s comments, Iran has denied that it is engaged in talks with the United States.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said his country was holding talks with Oman aimed at finding a way to resume the movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Baqaei said the two sides were close to reaching an agreement on the route vessels would use, but stressed that this did not mean the Strait of Hormuz had been fully reopened.
