Iran refuses new negotiations with US, Reuters reports

Trump pauses airstrike campaign

US President Donald Trump has paused the air campaign against Iran after 13 consecutive nights of bombing.

According to Reuters, Tehran said it would also suspend its attacks during the US pause.

A US official and several American media outlets told Reuters that the White House decision was made following an assessment by military command. According to the source, military commanders informed the president that they have nearly run out of targets.

In addition, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine warned that stocks of air defense munitions were running low.

Following the suspension of the strikes, oil prices fell sharply. Brent crude, which briefly climbed above $100 per barrel for the first time since May last week, dropped more than 8% on Monday to below $89 per barrel.

Iran rejects claims of seeking talks

Despite US statements that the pause was intended to create room for diplomacy, Tehran said it had not asked Washington to restart negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said contacts between the two sides continue through intermediaries, but reports claiming Iran had requested talks with the United States were false.

"Reports about Iran requesting negotiations with the US are fabricated. This is not in our DNA," Baghaei said.

At the same time, Baghaei stressed that Iran has not abandoned diplomatic channels.

Iran's position on the Strait of Hormuz

Tehran also said Iran continues to control the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.

Iranian state media, citing an informed source, reported that six vessels allegedly attempted to cross the strait on Monday morning without Tehran's permission. According to the reports, Iranian authorities turned the vessels back, and one of them had had "an accident".

The source also said that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz must follow routes designated by Iran.

Disagreements remain

According to Reuters, the United States and Iran interpret the provisions of the Strait of Hormuz memorandum differently. Washington insists that the document guarantees freedom of navigation, while Tehran argues that it recognizes Iran's authority to control transit through the waterway.

Reuters also reported that Iran intends to formalize its position in a separate agreement with Oman, which controls the opposite shore of the strait.

A senior Omani delegation visited Tehran over the weekend to discuss the issue, and an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the talks had been successful.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump suspended a planned military operation against Iran. According to The Wall Street Journal, one of the main reasons was the depletion of stocks of Patriot interceptor missiles needed for air defense.