US-Iran talks remained uncertain on Monday after US President Donald Trump announced negotiations would begin, while Iran insisted it was not holding direct discussions with Washington and was instead working with Oman on a temporary navigation route through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was negotiating with Oman on a temporary safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz but stressed that the discussions were unrelated to reopening the strategic waterway.

He said the proposed arrangement would establish a single navigation corridor with separate entry and exit lanes. However, Baghaei maintained that the Strait would not return to its pre-war status while what he described as ongoing US “aggression” continued. He also confirmed there were no plans to send or receive diplomatic delegations in the coming days.

Meanwhile, President Trump said talks with Iran would begin on Monday afternoon after he cancelled a planned military strike. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he said Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran had urged Washington to allow diplomacy more time.

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Trump described the cancelled operation as a “massive attack” and said he preferred reaching an agreement over further military action. He added that there was no deadline for negotiations but warned the US remained ready to use force if diplomacy failed.

CNN reported that US Central Command recently asked military analysts to submit “creative and unconventional” ideas to pressure Iran. According to the report, the unusual request reflected efforts to reassess Washington’s strategy toward Tehran. A CENTCOM spokesperson said the command regularly encourages innovative thinking to improve operational performance.

In another development, Reuters reported that Iraq’s state oil marketer SOMO offered steep discounts on August-loading Basrah crude to encourage buyers to lift cargoes from terminals inside the Strait of Hormuz. The discounts reached nearly $30 per barrel for some grades, highlighting market concerns over shipping risks in the region.

Iran also announced the execution of two men accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. Iranian media said the pair had allegedly provided military and security information to Israeli operatives.

Maritime security concerns persisted after the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an explosion near a tanker off the coast of Oman. The vessel and its crew remained safe, while authorities launched an investigation.

Separately, Greek shipping company GasLog confirmed that its LNG carrier GasLog Shanghai remained stable after an incident while exiting the Strait of Hormuz. The company said all crew members were safe and an assessment of the vessel was underway.

Despite renewed diplomatic activity, tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel remain high. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Israel would continue taking action against Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes regardless of any future agreement.

Israeli media also reported that senior officials learned through social media that Trump had cancelled a planned joint military strike against Iran, leaving Israeli leaders frustrated by the lack of advance coordination.