Trump Said The US Had “Very Good Conversations” With Iran To End The War But Iran Denied There Have Been Any Negotiations

US President Donald Trump has said the US is in active negotiations with Iran to end the war and postponed planned strikes on Iranian power plants, but Iran denied any talks had taken place.

After the US and Israel launched a joint unprovoked war on Iran on Feb. 28, Iran has retaliated by attacking Israel and neighboring Gulf countries with US bases, as well as partially closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil is transported.

On Saturday, March 21, Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or the US would "obliterate" Iran's power plants.

However, Trump announced on Monday, March 23, the US was negotiating with Iran to end the war, saying the two sides had two days of "very good and productive conversations" and postponed the power plant strikes by five days.

Trump later told reporters that his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had been in contact with a senior Iranian official — believed to be the speaker of the Iranian parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf — though Trump declined to name him, saying he did not want to get him killed, according to Axios.

Trump said Iran had reached out first.

He said the US laid out a 15-point proposal, with his top demand being that Iran permanently give up nuclear weapons.

Iranian officials denied that any talks had taken place.

Ghalibaf wrote on X that no negotiations had been held with the US.

Iranian state media said Trump had "retreated out of fear of Iran's response."

A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official told CBS News that Iran had "received points from the US through mediators," which were being reviewed, stopping short of calling it negotiations, but not denying all contact either.

The US’ Gulf allies had also warned the US that striking civilian power infrastructure in Iran could lead to disastrous escalation.

Trump's announcement sent stock markets up and oil prices sharply down.

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