Trump Stresses That He Believes Iran Wants A Deal Very Badly
Trump extends his deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz, says US to hold off on power plant strikes for 5 days
“All I’m saying is, we are in the throes of a real possibility of making a deal,” Trump said as he wrapped his extended exchange with reporters before boarding Air Force One.
“And I think, if I were a betting man I’d bet for it. But again, I’m not guaranteeing anything,” he said.
Major Developments:
- US President Donald Trump has announced that he is extending his deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz, says US to hold off on power plant strikes for 5 days.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social website Monday, just hours ahead of a deadline later in the day.
Writing in all capital letters, he said the U.S. and Iran have had “very good and productive conversations” that could yield “a complete and total resolution” in the war. Talks will continue “throughout the week,” Trump said.
Iran on Monday threatened to deploy "naval mines" in the Gulf if the United States and Israel were to attack any of its coasts or islands.
"Any attempt by the enemy to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally, and in accordance with established military practice, lead to all access routes and communication lines in the Persian Gulf and coastal areas being mined with various types of naval mines, including drifting mines deployable from the coasts," said the country's defence council in a statement carried by state media.
- Iranian media reported on Monday that targeted airstrikes across Tehran resulted in significant damage, as loud explosions rattled the capital, Fars News Agency reported. According to the agency, the attacks occurred in districts 1, 4, 11, 13, and 21, targeting expressways, with multiple loud explosions heard.
“In District 13, Pirouzi Street; in District 21, the Garmdareh area; in District 1, Shahid Babaei Expressway and Shahid Langari Street; as well as in District 4, the end of Shahid Babaei Expressway and the Heravi Square area; and in District 11, Hafez Street at the intersection with Jomhouri, tremendous explosion sounds have been reported,” it said.
The report added that a child was killed in Khorramabad. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported casualties and extensive damage following an air attack in Iran’s Urmia.
- New Trump-Iran Threats Heighten Energy Risks. President Donald Trump warned the U.S. will “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it doesn’t fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, prompting Tehran to say it would respond to any such strike with attacks on U.S. and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets.
Live Updates
- 23 March 2026 10:37 PM IST
Another Iranian official denies negotiations with the US
The spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that there have been no talks with the U.S., according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
“Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and the prerequisites for ending the war remains exactly as before,” IRNA quoted Esmail Baghaei as saying. — AP
- 23 March 2026 10:37 PM IST
Pakistan and Turkey discuss Iran war de-escalation
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said its top diplomat Ishaq Dar spoke with his Turkish counterpart on Monday, urging continued diplomacy as Islamabad steps up its outreach in the region.
Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact last year saying any attack on either nation is an attack on both, while Turkey has been an intermediary in past talks between Iran and the U.S. — AP
- 23 March 2026 10:36 PM IST
Iran’s parliament speaker denies there have been any negotiations with the US
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X that “No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”
His post on Monday came after Trump said Iran was eager to make a deal and that U.S. envoys were talking to a “respected” Iranian leader. — AP
- 23 March 2026 9:00 PM IST
International Energy Agency leader says global economy faces ‘major, major threat’
Forty energy assets in nine countries have been “severely or very severely damaged,” Fatih Birol told Australia’s National Press Club on Monday. “No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction.”
The oil crises of 1973 and 1979 together lost 10 million barrels per day, causing “major economic problems around the world, the recessions. And today, only as of today, we lost 11 million barrels per day,” he said.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, gas markets lost about 75 billion cubic meters, and have now lost about 140 BCM as a result of this crisis, he added.
The IEA released a historic 400 million barrels of stockpiled oil “to comfort the markets,” and is consulting with governments in Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East about releasing more, he said. — AP
- 23 March 2026 8:58 PM IST
Trump claims US has been holding talks with ‘respected’ Iranian leader
Trump told reporters Monday his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner conducted talks Sunday into the evening.
He said talks would continue today.
Trump did not name any official or officials representing Tehran. Trump said the U.S. has not talked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Trump said if a deal is reached with Iran, the U.S. will move to take Iran’s enriched uranium critical to its disputed nuclear program. — AP
- 23 March 2026 8:54 PM IST
Starmer says UK was aware of Iran-US talks
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has cautiously welcomed talks between the U.S. and Iran on ending the war.
Starmer said Monday that “we, the U.K., were aware that was happening.” He didn’t give further details.
Starmer urged de-escalation, but told British lawmakers that “we mustn’t fall into the false comfort of thinking that there will necessarily be a quick and early end to this.” — AP
- 23 March 2026 7:39 PM IST
Trump says Iran wants 'to make a deal,' claims US envoys have been holding talks with a 'respected' Iranian leader, reports AP
Trump says Iran wants 'to make a deal,' claims US envoys have been holding talks with a 'respected' Iranian leader, reports AP
- 23 March 2026 7:18 PM IST
Iran’s Foreign Ministry denies negotiations with US, state-owned IRAN newspaper says
“Remarks by the U.S. president are part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time to implement his military plans” the newspaper said.
“While there have been initiatives by regional countries to de-escalate tensions, Iran’s response has been clear: It did not start the war and all such requests should be directed to Washington.” — AP
- 23 March 2026 7:13 PM IST
Global shares jump after Trump announces progress on Iran
U.S. markets reversed course and shot higher before the opening bell and oil futures tumbled after President Donald Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz. He said the U.S. would hold off on strikes against Iranian power plants and other energy infrastructure.
Futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 2.6% before the opening bell. Oil prices tumbled as much as 10% at one point. Benchmark U.S. crude slid $8.23 to $90 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, tumbled $9.02 to $103.17 a barrel. — AP
- 23 March 2026 5:40 PM IST
Iran state TV says Trump backed down after firm warning
Iranian state television on Monday offered Tehran's first reaction to US President Donald Trump's decision to extend a deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz by five days.
The deadline should have been around 0000 GMT on Tuesday. Instead, Trump on Monday said he extended it by five days.
