Trump teases ‘more talks’ but mulls strikes on Iran

US President Donald Trump said he expects “more talks” with Iran as soon as this week, reiterating his claim that Tehran desperately wants to “make a deal.” A security source in Tehran, however, called Trump’s rhetoric an attempt at oil market manipulation.

Trump made the remarks in a phone interview with Axios on Sunday, a day after dismissing the latest Iranian peace proposal as “unacceptable.” Tehran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the lifting of the US naval blockade and the resumption of nuclear negotiations.

“I expect more talks with Iran. They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make. It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago. They overplayed their hand,” Trump told Axios.

The US president also confirmed that the resumption of full-scale hostilities with Iran remains a viable option, telling the outlet he has “always” been thinking about renewing strikes. Trump also claimed that over the weekend the US facilitated the transfer of “more than 20 million barrels” of oil through the strait, which would be the largest amount in months but still below pre-war levels.

Tehran has challenged the US narrative of maintaining full control over Hormuz and reportedly blocked nearly two dozen vessels from passing through the strait over the weekend. Speaking to RT, an Iranian security official dismissed Trump’s remarks as “media rhetoric” that does not change the “realities on the ground.”

“The operational reality is that over the past 48 hours, a total of 20 vessels – including seven last night and 13 the night before – were halted while transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” the official stated, suggesting that Trump’s claims were an attempt at market manipulation.

“There is no operational and sustainable mechanism for safe navigation through this strategic waterway outside the framework established and approved by the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“Donald Trump cannot calm energy markets or conceal the costs of his blockade and hostile policies through show-off and social media posts,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated the terms of the country’s peace plan, simultaneously signalling openness to further negotiations and readiness to continue the conflict “even if it comes to a doomsday war.”

“We want our assets, which are illegally frozen, to be released. We want to be able to sell our oil. We want certain things that the US has already committed itself [to] in the previous deals,” Araghchi stated in an interview with NBC, referring to the June memorandum of understanding.

Earlier reporting by the Wall Street Journal suggested Trump not only threw out the Iranian proposal but also told his aides he expected a renewed bombing campaign against the country after the November midterm elections in the US.