Kathmandu— US President Donald Trump announced that ongoing negotiations with Iran could lead to the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within days. He stated that this would be the first phase of discussions, followed by talks focusing on the denuclearization of Iran. Trump emphasized that Iran will never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.

Phase One: Reopening the Strait

President Trump expressed optimism about the potential for the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route connecting the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, to reopen fully within days. He said, “We’re talking about the opening of the Strait, having it open, literally by tomorrow. Completely open.”

Trump also noted that regional countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and others had called for diplomacy over military action, leading to these discussions.

Phase Two: Denuclearization Talks

Following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the next phase would involve negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. He stressed that dismantling Tehran's nuclear capabilities remains a central objective for Washington.

"The second phase will be the denuclearisation," Trump stated. "That'll take a little while. But we're very strong on it. They cannot have a nuclear weapon."

Iran’s Denial of Talks

Despite Trump's claims, Iran has publicly denied engaging in direct or indirect negotiations with the United States. Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, rejected reports of talks and maintained that any understanding between Iran and Oman regarding maritime traffic through the Strait was merely a technical arrangement.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.