On July 27, 2026, Trump briefed reporters aboard Air Force One, claiming that the U.S. and Iran were engaged in "very friendly" negotiations. He then appeared at a campaign rally in Michigan, issuing a tough statement: "You can't bribe them; you have to defeat them. We'll give them a severe lesson—but right now, the talks are going quite smoothly."

Trump later confided to American media that he had voluntarily halted U.S. military airstrikes against Iran last Friday to create space for diplomacy. If this round of "deep-level talks" collapses, he would order the resumption of "very tough military actions," warning there was little time left: "Either settle it quickly, or forget it."

But Iran immediately shot down the claim. On the same day, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahgat issued a cold rebuttal during a press conference, stating flatly that Tehran and Washington had "no direct negotiations whatsoever"—what Trump said was mere speculation. Iran is currently only talking with Oman, focusing on how to manage the Strait of Hormuz and ensure safe passage for merchant ships—issues entirely unrelated to the United States.

Bahgat also condemned the U.S. for ignoring international law over the past two years, calling it "mafia-like." He added that as long as Washington does not rein in its behavior, Iran could not possibly foster an environment conducive to dialogue.

In reality, the scene unfolded like this: Oman acted as a messenger, while Qatar, Pakistan, and Egypt chimed in from the sidelines. Trump sent envoy Witkoff and son-in-law Kushner to join the mix. The core topic was reopening the Strait of Hormuz and reviving discussions on the old nuclear deal.

Just weeks earlier, both sides had endured about two weeks of mutual bombardment. A 14-point memorandum of understanding had initially offered a temporary 60-day ceasefire, exemption from passage fees, partial sanctions relief, and release of overseas funds. However, they failed to reach agreement on who would control the strait’s management—leading to the collapse of the memorandum. The U.S. resumed maritime blockades, Iran retaliated by asserting control over the strait, and U.S. forces conducted inspections on more than a dozen vessels.

Though Trump maintained a hard line publicly, behind the scenes he faced challenges too. U.S. media revealed that Trump had paused operations not only out of diplomatic courtesy but also due to concerns that Pentagon air defense missile stocks were running dangerously low. Trump swiftly pushed back, insisting the U.S. "has more ammunition than the entire world combined."

Subsequently, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the U.S., openly stating before departure that his meeting with Trump would focus "mainly on Iran"—with dual goals: securing Israel’s safety and expanding the so-called "peace arc." This further eroded Iran’s trust in U.S. sincerity.

Thus, the current situation remains one of conflicting narratives: Trump frames "indirect communication" as "friendly U.S.-Iran talks" to suppress oil prices, stabilize his electoral prospects, and intimidate Iran; meanwhile, Tehran deliberately distances itself from "direct talks" to preserve its image of resistance, accepting only the channel through Oman.

To actually reach an agreement, three key issues must first be resolved: who will charge for passage through the strait and who will conduct security inspections; how far nuclear activities will be inspected; and whether the U.S. will lift sanctions and unfreeze frozen assets. Missing any one of these three hurdles, Trump’s "friendly negotiations" could instantly revert to "severe punishment"—and Iran has already made clear: if the U.S. enforces blockades, Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz and strike U.S. military bases in the Gulf region.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871999525026816/

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