U.S. Officials Deny New Iran Negotiations Amid Escalating Tensions President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that negotiations with Iran would begin "today" following his decision to cancel planned strikes against the country, but U.S. officials told CBS News that no new talks are planned. The conflicting statements came after Iran denied direct discussions with Washington, with its only ongoing negotiations reportedly focused on Oman. The situation remains tense as the U.S. military continues to enforce a blockade against Iran, redirecting commercial vessels and boarding ships under its control. The dispute has also led to a significant disruption in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil trade. A British maritime agency reported that an "unknown projectile" struck a cargo ship in the strait, though details about the incident, including damage or casualties, were not disclosed. The attack occurred 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Al Khasab, raising concerns about the safety of maritime routes. Meanwhile, data firm Kpler noted that traffic through the strait and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains constrained, with only nine confirmed vessel transits recorded on Sunday, including two sanctioned ships and two shadow fleet vessels. Trump’s rhetoric has intensified the crisis, with the president accusing U.S. oil companies of profiting excessively from high prices driven by the conflict. During an executive order signing at the White House, he criticized Chevron and ExxonMobil for "making too much money" from the situation, vowing that oil prices would "drop through the floor" once the Iran war concludes. However, neither company responded to requests for comment, leaving the administration’s claims unchallenged. The U.S.#iran #strait_of_hormuz #president_donald_trump #central_command #us_officials
