Diplomatic maneuvering between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear issues continues.
During early U.S. stock market trading hours on Monday, August 3 (Eastern Time), President Trump posted a series of messages on his social media platform, criticizing Iran’s leadership as 'duplicitous.' He accused Iran of simultaneously requesting talks with the U.S. while publicly denying any ongoing negotiations, and warned that the U.S. blockade of Iran would persist unless an agreement was reached or Iran 'surrendered completely.'
During the U.S. midday trading session, Trump again claimed that negotiations with Iran are still ongoing. According to China Central Television (CCTV), Trump stated while responding to reporters' questions at the White House that talks with Iran are currently underway.
CCTV reported that Trump said the first phase of negotiations with Iran involves reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and the second phase concerns 'denuclearization.' Trump emphasized that the U.S. stance on this matter is firm: Iran must not possess nuclear weapons. According to CCTV, Trump disclosed progress in talks regarding the Strait of Hormuz, saying it could reopen as late as tomorrow. He also noted that denuclearization discussions would continue 'for some time.'
Trump stressed that this dialogue represents Iran’s 'last chance to sign a good agreement.' He stated that the talks were initiated at Iran’s request and are being conducted with the support of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and other countries. Trump claimed that the U.S. had originally planned to launch a 'massive strike against Iran—more forceful than any previous attack'—but then received a phone call from Iran, followed by calls from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Iran, unwilling to face military action, expressed interest in negotiations, specifically wanting to discuss issues related to the Strait.
When asked whether Iran was willing to 'restore full freedom of navigation' through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump responded that he would never allow Iran to impose tolls: 'There will absolutely be no tolls—this issue wasn’t even discussed.' He added that if anyone were to collect tolls, it should be the United States, since Washington maintains full control over the strait.
Trump said that after discussing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, U.S. stock gains widened further, with the Nasdaq 100 Index rising more than 2% intraday.
Less than 24 hours before Trump’s social media post, he publicly stated last Sunday that the U.S. and Iran would begin negotiations on Monday, saying, 'After the Hormuz agreement comes the nuclear deal.' Earlier on Monday, Iran denied reports of ongoing talks with the U.S.
According to CCTV News, on August 3, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei stated that there were no plans 'these days' to host or dispatch any delegations regarding renewed negotiations with the United States. Baghaei emphasized that Iran was not holding talks with the U.S., but was negotiating with Oman on issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
Also on Monday, according to Arab media outlet Al Mayadeen, citing an Iranian source, the Iranian government has rejected the latest U.S. proposal on the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining that it will not fully reopen the strait until the war ends. The source added that the U.S. has already made concessions regarding the closure of the southern shipping lane of the strait. This report has not yet been independently verified. Citing the same report, CCTV noted that Iranian officials stated on Monday that the U.S. would not be allowed to establish non-Iranian shipping lanes in the strait.
According to U.S. broadcaster CBS, citing American officials, no new negotiations between the U.S. and Iran have been scheduled. The report added that talks between U.S. and Iranian negotiating teams, facilitated by intermediaries, are still ongoing.
Trump accused Iran of “begging” for talks while simultaneously claiming no discussions were taking place.
U.S. media noted that Trump, who had expressed considerable optimism about a diplomatic solution less than 24 hours earlier, had now reverted to a pessimistic outlook regarding the prospects of U.S.-Iran diplomacy.
On the evening of Sunday, August 2 (local time), Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One: “The Hormuz agreement will be reached, and then comes the nuclear deal.” He also stated at the time that the two sides would begin discussing nuclear issues on Monday afternoon.
According to CCTV, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei stated during his regular press briefing on August 3 that there were currently no talks between Iran and the United States, and that Iran’s current interlocutor was Oman, with discussions focused on the Strait of Hormuz. Baghaei further noted that, given the U.S.’s continued violations of the memorandum of understanding, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would not undergo significant changes.
Subsequently, during early U.S. trading hours on August 3 (Eastern Time), Trump took to social media to sharply criticize the Iranian government, calling its leadership “incredibly duplicitous.”
Trump’s post stated that while Iran was calling for talks—‘some might even say begging’—negotiations had already begun and more meetings were scheduled soon; yet at the same time, Iran publicly, and even ‘proudly,’ claimed there were no discussions whatsoever, asserting it was only engaging with Oman.
Commentators noted this stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s conviction just one day earlier that diplomacy could achieve a breakthrough.
Regarding Iran’s statements about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said Iran continues to repeat its claim about ‘exercising strong control over the Strait of Hormuz,’ but in reality, the strait is fully under the control of the U.S. Navy, effectively blockaded by the United States—or, as some have called it, the ‘American steel wall.’
Trump further warned:
“Nothing gets into Iran unless we allow it; nothing will be permitted through unless an agreement is reached—or unless Iran ‘completely surrenders.’”
However, even as he issued these tough warnings, Trump insisted, ‘Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we have actually been discussing how to resolve the problem they’ve created over decades,’ implying that some form of communication between the two sides continues behind the scenes.
At the end of his post, Trump reiterated his long-standing position: ‘It’s actually very simple: Iran will never have nuclear weapons!’
Notably, although Trump clearly walked back his optimistic outlook on diplomatic prospects expressed just the previous day and intensified pressure on Iran, he did not deny that contacts exist. Instead, he maintained that the U.S. and Iran are, in fact, still discussing solutions—a stance that sharply contrasts with Iran’s firm assertion on the same day that ‘there are no talks whatsoever,’ highlighting the persistent divergence in how both sides characterize the current state of diplomatic engagement.
Trump urges oil companies: Lower gasoline prices now
Aside from Iran, Trump also posted a separate message on social media, directing criticism squarely at the U.S. oil industry.
Trump mentioned that Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth, in an interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo that day, discussed the reasons behind the company's strong performance.
However, Trump argued that the one point Wirth conveniently omitted was that without the Trump administration’s 'genius, vision, strength, and stability,' the U.S. oil industry—and the entire nation—would be 'DEAD.'
Trump specifically cited the example that Chevron had previously been forced out of Venezuela but has now re-entered the country on a larger and stronger scale; he added that not only Chevron but other U.S. oil companies would also reap substantial profits as a result.
Subsequently, Trump directly addressed the entire oil industry in a social media post:
“Bring down consumer (retail) gasoline prices—do it now!”
Following his post, during the U.S. midday trading session on Monday, Trump specifically named oil companies. He stated that Exxon Mobil and Chevron have profited excessively from rising crude oil prices triggered by the Iran situation, saying these companies 'have made too much money off supply shortages' and 'I don’t like that.'
In recent months, Trump has repeatedly urged U.S. energy companies to increase supply and lower fuel prices, aiming to alleviate inflationary pressures and reinforce his political narrative of 'reducing the cost of living.'
Touting 'Best Poll Numbers Ever': Claims 'Denuclearization of Iran' and a 'Major Victory' in Venezuela
Another post Trump made on Monday returned to his familiar theme of political messaging.
Trump claimed that “real polls” show he currently enjoys his best-ever approval rating, attributing this to: the largest tax cuts in U.S. history; the strongest employment data ever recorded; the largest influx of foreign investment into the U.S. in global history; a “completely secure” border; a “huge victory” in Venezuela; the “denuclearization of Iran”; and America regaining global respect.
Trump again criticized mainstream media polls as “all fake” and called on voters to support the Republican Party.
Notably, Trump directly used the phrase 'denuclearization of Iran' in his post, but as of now, no formal nuclear agreement has been announced between the U.S. and Iran, and Iranian officials continue to deny that direct negotiations are underway.
Iranian Officials: U.S. Not Permitted to Establish Non-Iranian Shipping Lanes in Strait of Hormuz
According to CCTV News, on August 3 local time, Mohsen Rezaei, military advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, stated in a media interview that Iran would absolutely not allow the United States to establish any non-Iranian shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. He added that even if the U.S. deploys warships along what Iran considers illegal routes in the strait, Iran would treat them as targets.
Rezaei stated that Iran does not seek war, but its armed forces are fully prepared and will fight for Iran. Rezaei emphasized that the United States must change its behavior and comply with the terms of the Iran-U.S. Memorandum of Understanding; otherwise, Iran's armed forces will not stand idly by, and enemy naval vessels will face serious danger.
Rezaei also stated that Iran had previously been ready to strike three locations in Ukraine, but canceled the attack following Ukraine's apology.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of their strategic contestation.
Trump’s latest remarks once again underscore that the Strait of Hormuz remains at the heart of the current U.S.-Iranian standoff.
According to reports, Iran is currently consulting with Oman on a temporary shipping arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz, but emphasizes that such discussions do not imply a resumption of direct U.S.-Iran negotiations. Meanwhile, Trump insists that the two sides are, in fact, discussing solutions and claims that the U.S. Navy has full control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Although the two sides’ statements remain markedly contradictory, markets generally believe that as long as expectations persist regarding the resumption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Iran, concerns about further escalation in the Middle East will ease somewhat. However, given the ongoing mutual denials in their public statements, significant uncertainty remains regarding the prospects for future negotiations and shipping arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.