Trump announces ‘very good’ Iran talks denied by Tehran
The Hindu
Trump claims “very good” talks with Iran, despite Tehran’s denial, as U.S. negotiators plan potential meetings in Pakistan.
President Donald Trump on Monday (March 23, 2026) hailed “very good” talks with an unidentified Iranian official after abruptly shelving plans for fresh attacks, even as Washington’s ally Israel vowed to keep up strikes on the Islamic republic.
The surprise disclosure — denied by Tehran, which accused Mr. Trump of manipulating energy markets — came ahead of a Monday (March 23, 2026) night deadline imposed by Mr. Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane or see the US “obliterate” its power plants.
Oil prices fell and stock markets jumped as observers scrambled to interpret Mr. Trump’s statements despite the Iranian denial.
Axios, citing an unnamed Israeli official, identified Mr. Trump’s interlocutor as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s speaker of parliament and one of its most prominent non-clerical figures.
The outlet and newswire Reuters reported U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may meet an Iranian delegation for talks in Pakistan as soon as this week, with Vice President J.D. Vance possibly joining.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt did not deny the reports, saying “speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House.”
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