Trump Announces Talks With Iran; Tehran Denies It

Monday, August 3, was dominated by the fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement the previous day that he had called off the large-scale strikes against Iran that had been planned for the weekend. Trump had previously said the operation would be “the most powerful since World War II.”

On Monday morning, Trump announced that talks with Iran would take place later that evening. But Tehran was quick to contradict the White House. Speaking through the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Teheran said it was not engaged in talks with Washington, insisting that its only discussions were with Oman over the division of responsibilities in the Strait of Hormuz.

By Monday evening, Trump had returned to a more confrontational tone toward Iran. “The Iranian authorities are as deceitful as they come,” he said. Iran “has a choice between a deal or total capitulation,” he added, according to AFP.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s role in Trump’s latest policy reversal came into sharper focus. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan had spoken with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. According to the ministry, the two men discussed “de-escalation.” The call echoed an earlier intervention by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s overnight conversation with Trump from Saturday into Sunday, during which he urged the U.S. president to prioritize diplomacy and put the planned strikes against Tehran on hold.

Despite appearances, diplomatic contacts were reportedly continuing at a steady pace behind the scenes. According to MTV, Araghchi held lengthy discussions on diplomatic prospects with his Pakistani counterpart, who has emerged as the principal mediator since the start of the U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Attention on Monday was also focused on Gaza, where the Peace Council is expected to begin overseeing Hamas’ disarmament. But signs of strain are already beginning to emerge. In its first response to the agreement announced by Trump and approved by Hamas, Israel voiced its “concerns” to Washington. “The version made public does not reflect Israel’s position,” Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, said in comments carried by AFP.

Lebanese Delegation Heads to Rome

Lebanon is preparing for a seventh round of direct talks with Israel, scheduled for Tuesday at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. The negotiations are taking place in an increasingly tense atmosphere, amid continued Israeli operations in the south and mounting criticism of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

Differences also appear to be widening between the two delegations, with the Lebanese side demanding tangible results and announcements on new pilot areas. These zones are expected to pave the way for a gradual Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese army. The Israelis, however, appear reluctant to consider further withdrawals. Not to mention the approaching parliamentary elections, which are making the Israeli prime minister less inclined to offer additional concessions that could cost him votes.

One statement that deserves attention came from U.S. Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa. In a message posted on X, he immediately welcomed the fact that the talks in Rome were “continuing.” He stressed that the text of an agreement is one thing, while its implementation is another. He also warned against any “rush” in implementing the agreement, saying that the objective was to ensure that the populations they seek to protect would ultimately be protected.

Was this a message to the Lebanese urging them to lower their demands? The next round of negotiations will tell.