Aramco sidesteps Hormuz as Iran crisis cuts flows to a tenth
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding potential US-Iran negotiations, with President Trump claiming talks are imminent while Iranian officials and US sources deny any formal arrangements. The situation remains tense as the US maintains a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters
The lack of clarity in diplomatic channels increases the risk of miscalculation in a volatile region critical to global energy supplies.
President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that Iran had requested talks with the backing of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
He said negotiations would proceed in two phases, beginning with reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which he said would be "completely open" by Tuesday, before turning to Iran's nuclear program.
Trump described the talks as Tehran's "last chance" to reach an agreement, saying he wanted to give Iran "every last chance before decapitation."
But Tehran rejected the announcement outright, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei saying there were no talks and no plans to receive a US delegation or send Iranian representatives to negotiations in the coming days.
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