US President Donald Trump claimed that he halted a planned military strike against Iran after receiving requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, adding that Tehran has been given a "last chance" to reach an agreement.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said Iran now has a final opportunity to sign what he described as "a good document."
"This is a last chance. This is not something that, if it doesn't happen, there will be another opportunity. This is a last chance for them to sign a good document," Trump said.
The president also claimed that the latest diplomatic contacts were initiated by Iran, accusing Tehran of publicly denying negotiations despite extensive meetings with US officials.
Trump further asserted that the United States had been preparing a large-scale military operation against Iran before several Gulf countries urged Washington to hold back.
"We were going to hit them very hard yesterday, very, very hard—harder than any attack since World War II. We were set to go, and then they called. Saudi Arabia called, UAE called, Qatar called. I got calls from numerous people," he said.
Reiterating that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains Washington's top priority, Trump argued that successive US administrations and other world powers had failed to resolve the issue for decades.
"It should have been done... for 50 years. Nobody did it. And it was time," he said.
Strait of Hormuz could reopen soon
Trump also said discussions with Iran include the possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which he suggested could happen "by tomorrow" as part of the first phase of negotiations. According to him, the next stage would focus on Iran's denuclearisation.
"We'll find out today or tomorrow. They're going to go quickly one way or the other. It's not very complex. We're talking about the Strait, the opening of the Strait, having it open, literally by tomorrow. Completely open. And that's Phase 1," Trump said.
Trump calls Iranian leadership "duplicitous"
Earlier, Trump criticised Iran's leadership in a post on Truth Social after Tehran denied that any talks with Washington were taking place.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said there were no direct or indirect negotiations with the United States, firmly rejecting reports of bilateral dialogue.
Responding to the denial, Trump accused Iran of sending mixed signals.
"Iranian leadership is unbelievably duplicitous! 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 wrote on Truth Social.
