US military options narrow as Trump calls off Iran strikes: What to know

WASHINGTON — Faced with limited military options to force Iran’s leaders to relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz or abandon their nuclear program without widening an already regional war , President Donald Trump has once again turned to diplomacy. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump claimed that long-stalled negotiations between the US and Iran were expected to resume on Monday afternoon. On Monday, Iran’s government denied it is entering direct talks with the US administration but acknowledged Iranian officials were holding talks with Omani counterparts over the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have quietly signaled openness to eventually resuming talks with the US, a diplomatic source close to the discussions confirmed to Al-Monitor. Trump’s comments on Sunday marked at least the third time the president has backed down from his escalatory threats to expand the stalled American air campaign, including by systematically destroying Iran’s civil infrastructure.