WASHINGTON D.C July 27, 2026 — U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States is engaged in “very friendly” talks with Iran, expressing optimism that the negotiations could produce a deal to end the months-long conflict while warning that American military strikes would resume if diplomacy fails.
Speaking to reporters, Trump described the discussions as positive and said Iran had requested meetings after recent U.S. pressure. “We’re talking right now. We’re having good talks… I think there’s a good chance that something could happen,” he said aboard Air Force One. “And if it does, good. If it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago.”
The remarks come during a three-day pause in U.S. airstrikes that began Saturday, following nearly two weeks of renewed American attacks on Iranian targets. The pause is the latest development in a conflict that began in late February and has centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz and broader security issues in the region.
Trump claimed Iranian leaders sought talks because “we’ve been hitting them very hard” and that their military capabilities had been significantly degraded. He added that he has “a lot of patience” for the process but indicated the window for progress is limited.
Iranian officials, however, rejected the characterization of the talks. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that Tehran has not requested the resumption of direct peace negotiations with the United States and is only receiving messages through mediators. Iran said it would continue to pause its own attacks as long as the U.S. ceasefire holds, while maintaining it remains in control of the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflicting statements highlight the fragile nature of the current diplomatic opening. Oil markets reacted to the pause and talk of negotiations, with prices dropping on hopes of reduced tensions in the key energy transit route. Further developments are expected as both sides navigate the narrow path between renewed fighting and a potential agreement.
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