Trump Jabs ‘Duplicitous’ Iran, Claims Talks Are Happening Whether They Admit It or Not

(AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

President Donald Trump accused Iran’s leadership of being “unbelievably duplicitous” and insisted peace negotiations were under way “whether” the regime “wants to admit it or not” after Tehran publicly denied his claim of direct talks.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump reacted to a statement from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei earlier in the day, who had rejected the idea that the regime was negotiating with the United States, despite the president’s insistence to the contrary during a Sunday night Air Force One press gaggle.

Taking to social media the president unloaded on Baqaei’s statement: “They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman.’”

He continued: “They then go on to give their usual blather in saying, the Strait of Hormuz will be operated powerfully by them, when it is already completely controlled by the United States Navy and our ‘Blockade’ or, as some say, ‘The United States Wall of Steel!’”

He added: “Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished.”

The president concluded: “Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused, for decades. It is very simple, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”

(Screengrab via Truth Social)

Trump had told reporters on Air Force One that negotiations with Iran would begin “tomorrow afternoon” and declared a peace agreement was “imminent.” He also said he had shelved plans for what he described as “the biggest attack since World War II” after appeals from Iran and regional partners including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Baqaei maintained Monday that discussions involving Oman were focused on securing a mutually acceptable shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz rather than direct U.S.-Iran negotiations.

He said the sides were close to reaching an understanding on a route that would “respect the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguard our national interests and security,” while stressing that any agreement would not amount to reopening the strait.

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