Donald Trump has accused Iran of being “unbelievably duplicitous” in denying talks aimed at ending the conflict were being held.
The US president said Tehran had “begged” for negotiations and whether they admitted it or not discussions were taking place to reach “a solution” to the current stand-off.
He also dismissed Iran’s claims to control the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway as “their usual blather”.
The president made the comments on his Truth Social platform after he said on Sunday he had halted US forces from carrying out “the biggest attack since World War II” to allow for further diplomatic efforts.
He said talks would be held with Iran on Monday, but this was subsequently denied by Tehran.
In response, Mr Trump posted: “Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous!
“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’.
“They then go on to give their usual blather in saying, the Strait of Hormuz will be operated powerfully by them, when it is already completely controlled by the United States Navy and our ‘Blockade’ or, as some say, ‘The United States Wall of Steel!’
“Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished.
“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.”
The president’s latest broadside comes after he said on Sunday the emerging deal would include reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas supply route, and would tackle concerns over Iran’s disputed nuclear plans.
Only the day before, Mr Trump said he was “losing faith” in talks with Iran and warned the US military “will be hitting them very hard”.
Iran has continued to try to maintain its stranglehold on the Gulf channel, which had been open before the US and Israel began the conflict, including demanding ships seek permission to transit, attacking vessels and threatening to impose charges.
The disruption to trade through the waterway has driven up fuel and food prices.
An interim ceasefire deal collapsed in recent weeks after renewed fighting in the strait, which has been a flashpoint in the war.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Sunday the sea route “will in no way return to the status it was before February 28”, when the war started.
While he said discussions had been held over use of the strait with Oman, which lies on the other side of the channel, there had been no talks about reopening the waterway.
