Former President Donald Trump has reiterated that the United States will resume “strong military action” against Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the escalating crisis in the Middle East. In an interview with Axios, Trump emphasized that talks with Iran are at a critical juncture and that the U.S. will not allow negotiations to drag on indefinitely. “We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don’t work out, we will go back to very strong military action,” he said, adding that the window for progress is limited.

Despite Trump’s comments, Iranian officials have denied engaging in direct negotiations with the United States. Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, clarified that while mediators may relay messages, no formal talks are underway. His remarks come amid technical discussions between Iran and Oman focused on future management of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway vital for global energy supplies. The two nations have yet to reach agreement on Iran’s demand for transit fees or tolls levied on ships passing through the strait.

The meetings in Tehran on Friday and Saturday represent a crucial effort to prevent further hostilities after nearly two weeks of U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian positions. The strikes were launched in response to what Washington described as repeated Iranian violations of a memorandum of understanding signed last month, including attempts to assert exclusive control over shipping through the strait via a southern route overseen by the U.S. Iran counters that the southern route breaches the ceasefire agreement, maintaining it retains sole authority over reopening navigation in the area.

Senior U.S. military officials have expressed concerns about the campaign’s sustainability, citing dwindling munitions and the risk of Iranian retaliatory attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Jordan. Admiral Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, reportedly indicated that the current bombing campaign had reached its operational limit.

Diplomatic sources indicate that the Iran-Oman talks, supported by China, Qatar, and Pakistan, seek to create a framework balancing Iran’s and Oman’s proposals in accordance with international maritime law. Oman has advocated a voluntary fees model akin to the arrangement in the Strait of Malacca, where contributing countries support maritime safety and environmental protection services. Oman proposes establishing a similar entity for the Strait of Hormuz under the auspices of the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Arsenio Dominguez, IMO secretary general, has acknowledged the Malacca model as a potential reference.

Conversely, Iran’s environmental department has drafted a plan demanding compensation for environmental damage caused by over 50,000 vessels—including oil tankers—transiting the strait annually. Iran’s proposal would authorize it to collect fees based on vessel type, cargo volume, and pollution history.

Baghaei described the discussions with Oman as constructive but unrelated to U.S. involvement. He stressed that the talks aim to safeguard shipping security while respecting the sovereign rights and national interests of both coastal states.

Oman faces a delicate position, as the U.S. opposes any transit tolls but may accept a limited fee system for specific services. Meanwhile, tensions remain high as the U.S. has encouraged commercial shipping to challenge Iran’s control over the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials reported that six vessels with disabled navigation systems attempted passage recently; one was fired upon and others turned back.

The crisis is further compounded by the U.S. reinstating a blockade on Iranian oil exports and terminating a sanctions waiver, increasing economic and geopolitical pressures on Tehran.