Key events<\/p>\n
Iran foreign ministry says there are no talks with the US<\/p>\n
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran\u2019s foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters at a weekly press briefing on Monday that Iran is not currently holding any talks with the US, Reuters reports \u2013 contradicting claims<\/a> made by Donald Trump on Sunday night that talks with Iran would happen the next day.<\/p>\n Baghaei said that there were no plans to receive a delegation or send an Iranian one, and that Iran\u2019s current focus was on negotiations with Oman over the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides \u2013 neither the northern route nor the southern route \u2013 but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security,\u201d he said in an interview with Iranian state television.<\/p>\n On Sunday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he decided to hold off on ordering American forces to carry out new strikes against Iran at the urging of Gulf allies Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, including a phone call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.<\/p>\n \u201cI said to the crown prince, \u2018What would you rather do? Would you rather us do this or not?\u2019\u201d Trump said. \u201cThey said we would much prefer a deal as opposed to an attack, because you don\u2019t know where these attacks lead.\u201d<\/p>\n