First Thing: Trump promises new Iran talks as Tehran touts Hormuz shipping deal with Oman

Donald Trump said talks with Iran would happen on Monday but declined to set a deadline for an agreement, after earlier saying he had called ⁠off an imminent attack.

For its part, Iran said it was nearing a deal with Oman over a new route through the strait of Hormuz, and it had no plans to receive a delegation or send an Iranian one to any talks.

On Saturday night, Trump claimed on social media that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked for time to complete a deal ⁠that would lead to “the immediate, complete and total” reopening of the strait and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat”.

What has Iran said about the strait? The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, told state television on Sunday that a deal was close with Oman over a new route through the waterway. “We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides – neither the northern route nor the southern route – but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security,” he said in an interview.

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