US to resume talks with Iran, says Trump

US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States and Iran are set to resume diplomatic talks, claiming discussions could begin as early as Monday afternoon (August 3, local time).

He also said plans for a major military operation in the Middle East have been put on hold for now.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iran had been aware of the possibility of military action in advance. However, he noted that both sides are now moving toward dialogue, with negotiations expected to begin on Monday.

Earlier, in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that progress toward a potential agreement had prompted Iran and several US allies in the Middle East to urge a pause in any military operation.

Tehran has yet to issue an official response to Trump's remarks. Although Trump has previously expressed optimism about resolving tensions through diplomacy, relations between the two countries have repeatedly been strained by periods of heightened tensions and reciprocal military actions.

Responding to reporters' questions, Trump said no specific deadline had been set for reaching a possible agreement with Iran. He added that future decisions would depend on developments, stressing that he preferred resolving the crisis through negotiation rather than war.

Trump also claimed that Mohammed bin Salman, along with mediators from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, had urged him to refrain from launching military action.

According to Trump, there is now a renewed possibility of reaching an understanding over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency rejected Trump's claims, saying Tehran had not asked Washington to avoid further military action and describing the US president's remarks as baseless.

Iranian media also reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said ongoing talks with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz issue were in their final stages.

However, Trump did not disclose where Monday's expected meeting would take place or who would participate in the talks.