Trump accuses Iran of mixed signals, repeats demand for nuclear deal or ‘total surrender’

US President Donald Trump on Monday accused Iran’s leadership of sending contradictory messages over negotiations, claiming Tehran had privately sought talks while publicly denying that discussions were taking place, Anadolu reports.

“Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous!” Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social.

“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.’”

Trump also dismissed Iran’s assertions that it controls the Strait of Hormuz, saying the strategic waterway was already under US military control.

“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 said.

READ: Trump cancels planned strikes on Iran to allow for talks on peace deal

The president added that nothing would pass through to Iran unless the US allowed it and said restrictions would remain in place until an agreement was reached or Tehran accepted what he called “total surrender.”

“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!” he said.

In recent weeks, the US and Iran have exchanged military strikes, with Washington attacking targets inside Iran and Tehran responding by targeting what it described as US military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, particularly Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The escalation followed a memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran in June and the launch of negotiations toward a final agreement.

The talks later stalled over disagreements concerning security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important routes for energy supplies and global trade.

READ: Trump postpones Iran escalation following Gulf diplomatic pressure: Reports