Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Iran’s leadership is trying to present itself as open to restraint, even as it denies direct negotiations with Washington. Trump, however, says the two sides are talking now and insists there is still active contact.

Iran’s foreign ministry has denied that any direct talks with the U.S. are taking place, saying its current negotiations are with Oman and are focused on the Strait of Hormuz. That directly contradicts Trump’s claim that “we are talking right now” and his broader argument that a deal is still possible.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the main diplomatic track because both sides see it as central to de-escalation and shipping security. Trump earlier said he had called off an imminent attack in hopes of quickly reaching a deal, while Iran said it was not at that stage and that no agreement with Washington had been reached.

For now, the messaging points in two different directions: Tehran is emphasizing it does not want a wider war, but it is also refusing to confirm U.S. talks. That leaves the situation fluid, with diplomacy still alive but public trust between the two sides very low.

The immediate risk of escalation may be lower if both sides keep talking, but the disagreement over whether talks even exist shows how fragile the process is. Until the U.S. and Iran align on what exactly is being negotiated, the wider war question will remain unresolved.