An informed Iranian official told state-run Press TV that reports of Iranian flexibility on the nuclear issue are false, that Iran's position has not changed and that no discussions are currently taking place on the matter. The official said the US government is "trapped" in the Strait of Hormuz and is raising the nuclear issue to divert attention from the problem. The denial came hours after Saudi outlet Al Hadath reported Iran had agreed to suspend uranium enrichment in exchange for eased US sanctions, and after a US official said Iran had indicated flexibility on nuclear issues and that Washington was holding "positive and constructive discussions through the mediators."

A deputy chairman of Iran's National Security Committee said the nuclear issue is no longer the central focus of negotiations and that the Strait of Hormuz is now at the center, adding that the United States must accept Iran's conditions before any talks. Iran said Friday it would no longer negotiate over its nuclear program at all and would make no concessions on enriching uranium or shipping its highly enriched uranium out of the country. A US official told Al Jazeera that discussions through intermediaries continue but that there will be no agreement without addressing the nuclear issue.

President Donald Trump said US officials spoke with Iran mediators on Monday, and mediators were expected to hold separate talks with the two sides on Monday or Tuesday over an amended version of Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, which Trump rejected on Saturday. Brent settled up 0.92% at $105.28 a barrel after a session in which US crude fell nearly 4% from its high on the sanctions relief reports.