Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Trump Delays Iran Talks Until Tehran Is Ready To Deal
The United States and Iran have been having serious disagreements.
A US official said talks had been positive, but President Donald Trump decided to wait before continuing them.
Trump said Iran must be ready to make a deal first.
He also said no talks were currently taking place.
Trump said the Strait of Hormuz was open, even though a naval blockade remained in effect.
Iran’s parliament speaker gave a different account of the strait’s status.
He said Iran would not reopen it until the United States met several commitments.
The disagreement is adding to tensions between the two countries.
A US official said Donald Trump told negotiators to pause Iran talks until Tehran is ready to reach a deal.
The official described earlier US-Iran discussions as positive and denied divisions within the US administration.
Trump said no talks were currently happening and that the naval blockade of Iran remained in force.
Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz was open and operating, with naval mines removed or detonated.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran would not reopen the strait until US commitments, including lifting the blockade and easing sanctions, were fulfilled.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, US officials, Iranian officials and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
- What
- The United States has paused further Iran talks while Washington and Tehran issue conflicting statements about the Strait of Hormuz and related commitments.
- When
- The development was reported amid events described as occurring earlier Tuesday local time; no calendar date was provided.
- Where
- The dispute concerns negotiations between Washington and Tehran and the Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- The US official said Trump wants Tehran to be ready to make a deal, while Iran says the United States must meet commitments including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets and easing oil sanctions.
United States Position
Iranian Position
Status of negotiations
United States Position
A US official said earlier discussions were positive but that Trump decided to wait until Tehran was ready to make a deal. Trump separately said no talks were currently taking place or scheduled.
Iranian Position
Iran’s position in the report is presented through its demands for US fulfillment of commitments before further action on the Strait of Hormuz.
Status of the Strait of Hormuz
United States Position
Trump said the naval blockade remained in full force and effect, while the Strait of Hormuz was open and operating and naval mines had been removed or detonated.
Iranian Position
Ghalibaf said Iran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States fulfilled commitments under a 14-point memorandum of understanding.
Conditions for de-escalation
United States Position
The US official said there was no conflict within the administration over diplomatic engagement with Tehran, but Trump wants to wait for Iran to be ready for a deal.
Iranian Position
Ghalibaf said Iran’s military and diplomatic tracks would work together in response to alleged US violations and warned of a stronger response if tensions escalated.
- US position on talks
- Donald Trump has asked his negotiating team to wait until Tehran is ready to make a deal.
- Earlier discussions
- A US official described previous talks with Iran as positive.
- Current talks
- Trump said there were no talks or conversations taking place or scheduled with Iran.
- US position on Strait of Hormuz
- Trump said the naval blockade remained in full force while the strait was open and operating.
- Iranian position on reopening
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran would not reopen the strait until US commitments were fulfilled.
- Iranian demands
- The cited commitments include lifting the blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and easing oil sanctions.
- Broader issue
- The Strait of Hormuz remains central to rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.