Arab News quoted Israeli media outlet Yedioth Ahronoth as saying that Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was ready to negotiate with the Americans.
Ahernoth cited talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US mediator Steve Witkoff, which were approved by high-level Iranian officials.
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson rejected US President Donald Trump’s claims of talks with Iran, saying that Tehran has not held any talks with Washington in the last 24 days of the US-Israeli unprovoked war against the Islamic Republic.
The significant development comes as US President Donald Trump on Monday said the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global sea route amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, “will be open very soon” and indicated that he envisions it being jointly managed by the US and Iran.
Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump said the strait “will be open very soon” if ongoing talks with Tehran are successful.
He further said that he and Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, would “jointly” control the vital shipping and global energy route.
The US President added, “It will be under joint control, me and the Ayatollah, whoever the Ayatollah is or whoever the next Ayatollah is.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital transit route that typically transports 15 million barrels of crude oil and 50 million barrels of oil products per day, accounting for about 25 percent of global seaborne oil trade.
However, due to the ongoing conflict in the region, this waterway is considered high risk for navigation, disrupting global energy supplies.
Trump also stressed that recent initial attacks in the conflict had targeted most of Iran’s senior leadership, adding, “And there will be a very serious form of regime change. There will be a spontaneous regime change,” and he said talks over the weekend appeared likely to ease tensions.
Commenting on the individuals involved in the negotiations, Trump said, “But we’re talking to some people who I find very smart and trustworthy. People on the inside know them, they’re very well-respected, and maybe one of them would be what we’re looking for.”
Earlier, the US President had announced that he has directed the US War Department to postpone for five days any military action against Iranian power plants and energy sites, citing ongoing diplomatic talks with Tehran amid rising tensions in West Asia.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US and Iran have had a “very good and meaningful conversation” over the past two days aimed at resolving hostilities in the region.
He further said that the decision to call off the strike was based on the “nature and tone” of the discussions, which he described as “thorough, detailed and constructive”. Trump also said that talks would continue throughout the week.
This important development has come at a time when the conflict between America, Israel and Iran has now entered its fourth week. Its far-reaching effects are being felt beyond West Asia and the Gulf region, as concerns over global energy security grow, supply disruptions and civilian, military and energy infrastructure are damaged.