Iran’s foreign ministry has rubbished Donald Trump’s claim of “productive” talks to end the war in Iran, suggesting the president is only trying to reassure inflamed energy markets and buy time for his military plans.
Donald Trump said on Monday morning that Washington and Tehran had had "VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE" conversations over the past two days about a "COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST".
He wrote on social media that he had instructed the US defence department to postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, just hours before the expiry of his ultimatum to Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or be “obliterated”.
Iran’s foreign ministry promptly denied that there are any direct talks with the US. The ministry said that while there are initiatives from regional countries to de-escalate, all requests should be directed towards the US “as we did not initiate the war”.
Citing an unnamed source, Iran’s Fars news agency said Trump had retreated after hearing that Iran would respond by attacking all power plants in the region.
Iran also threatened to lay mines across the entire Persian Gulf if the US went ahead with plans to attack the country’s coast or islands.
Trump is under growing pressure from Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil, which has seen energy prices rocket since the US and Israel opened hostilities at the end of February.
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In context: Trump delays strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure after ‘productive conversations’
President Donald Trump on Monday backed off his threat to have US warplanes strike Iranian power plants, citing what he described as “productive conversations” with Tehran.
Here’s what it means for the prospect of peace in the region:
Trump delays strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure after ‘productive conversations’
President Donald Trump on Monday backed off his threat to have U.S. warplanes strike Iranian power plants, citing what he described as “productive conversations” with Tehran.James Reynolds23 March 2026 12:30
Trump's remarks are meant to decrease energy prices, says Iran
Iran’s foreign ministry says that Trump’s latest remarks are intended to decrease energy prices and buy time for his military plans, according to the Mehr agency, in a sign the war is no closer to ending.
James Reynolds23 March 2026 12:11
Efforts to de-escalate ongoing, says Iranian foreign ministry
Iran’s Mehr news agency, citing the country’s foreign ministry, now reports that there are initiatives to decrease tensions with the US.
The Foreign Ministry adds that “our response is that the US should be the interlocutor as we did not initiate the war”.
James Reynolds23 March 2026 12:09
Israeli announces fresh strikes in Tehran
Israel’s military says in an initial report that the IDF is currently conducting strikes on “Iranian terror regime targets” in the heart of Tehran.
James Reynolds23 March 2026 12:04
Tehran will continue to respond to attacks, says Iranian source
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, also citing an Iranian official, now reports that Iran will continue to respond and defend its territory, after Trump suggested talks were heading towards a “complete and total resolution”.
The source said the Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions and that energy markets will remain unsettled, adding that no negotiations with the US are underway.
James Reynolds23 March 2026 12:01
Iranian media casts doubt on Trump claims of a return to diplomacy
Iran’s Fars news agency, citing a source, reports that there are no direct communications with the US nor through intermediaries.
The source says Trump backed down after hearing that Iran would target all power plants in West Asia, instead.
Trump announced this morning that the US and Iran were engaged in “very good” talks to end hostilities in the region.
James Reynolds23 March 2026 11:53
Stocks show signs of recovery as Trump nods to diplomatic routes reopening
James Reynolds23 March 2026 11:46
US to halt all strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure following 'productive' talks
In a new statement, Donald Trump says that the US and Iran have been engaged in “very good and productive” conversations about a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East”.
“Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, witch [sic] will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter! President Donald J. Trump”
James Reynolds23 March 2026 11:13
EU to convene gas supply group meeting on Iran war
The EU’s gas coordination group will meet on Thursday to assess the impact of the Iran war on Europe's gas supplies, a European Commission spokesman said on Monday.
The EU's gas coordination group includes representatives from member state governments.
It monitors gas storage and security of supply in the EU and coordinates response measures during crises.
James Reynolds23 March 2026 11:03
In full: Americans are more confused about the goals of Iran war now than when it began, poll says
In a survey of Americans conducted between March 17 and March 20, approximately 68 per cent of the 3,300 respondents said the Trump administration had yet to clearly explain the goals of attacking Iran.
That’s six percentage points higher than when the same question was asked in a similar survey conducted between March 2 and March 4, within days of the conflict erupting on February 2.
Read the full story:
Americans are more confused about goals of Iran war now than when it began: poll
Largely, Americans do not approve of Trump’s war with Iran – though Republicans hold a much more positive view James Reynolds23 March 2026 11:01NewerOlder
