Trump accuses Iranian leaders of duplicity over peace negotiations

President Trump on Monday accused Tehran of being “duplicitous” and said peace negotiations were underway through mediators, whether Iranian officials wanted to admit it or not.

Mr. Trump fumed on social media after Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it is not talking to the U.S. over control of the Strait of Hormuz, one day after the U.S. leader said he called off airstrikes in anticipation of new talks.

“Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous!” Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social. “They ask for a meeting, some would say ’beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ’Oman.’”

Mr. Trump launched his war against Iran on Feb. 28 to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon.

Tehran retaliated by clamping down on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, an oil chokepoint between Iran and Oman, and peace negotiations have focused on control of the waterway.

Iran wants to maintain some level of control over the strait with Oman, sparking cycles of violence in which the U.S. and Iran trade airstrikes, only to pull back and consider peace negotiations.

SEE ALSO: Iran says no talks with U.S. expected despite Trump’s assurances

Tehran officials have been developing a framework with Oman for control of the strait in line with a memorandum of understanding that Iran signed with U.S. officials. However, the U.S. considers the memo a dead document.

Democrats and other critics say Mr. Trump is stuck in a “war of choice” with no exit strategy, but the administration insists the U.S. military has the upper hand.

“Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished,” Mr. Trump posted Monday. “Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused, for decades. It is very simple, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”

U.S. stocks surged Monday after Mr. Trump called off strikes over the weekend upon the request of allies in the Persian Gulf.

The cost of Brent crude oil, an international benchmark, dropped about 6% to around $83 per barrel on Monday.