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 10:14 AM IST
IRGC Spokesman mocked US President Trump in English "Hey Trump, you're fired. You are familiar with this sentence. Thank you for your attention to this matter."
- 23 March 2026 10:10 AM IST
Macron Urges Halt to Energy Facility Attacks
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday held talks with Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Macron reaffirmed France’s solidarity and its commitment to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s air defences amid repeated attacks involving Iranian missiles and drones. - 23 March 2026 10:07 AM IST
Iran Imposes $2M Fee on Ships to Pass Hormuz Strait: Report
Iran has reportedly begun charging select merchant vessels a transit fee of USD 2 million to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant escalation in its assertion of control over the key global shipping route. - 23 March 2026 10:06 AM IST
Markets Fall as US-Iran Tensions Rattle Investors
Domestic equity markets opened the week on a weak note on Monday, witnessing heavy selling pressure as investors shifted towards safer assets amid rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran. - 23 March 2026 8:36 AM IST
Spanish PM Sánchez Calls for Opening of Strait of Hormuz
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday called for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Sanchez, in a post on X, said that further escalation of the war may create an energy crisis for all of humanity. In a post on X, he said, "The Government of Spain demands the opening of Hormuz and the preservation of all the energy sites of the Middle East. We stand at a global tipping point. Further escalation could trigger a long-term energy crisis for all humanity. The world should not pay the consequences of this war." - 23 March 2026 8:36 AM IST
Macron Urges Halt to Energy Facility Attacks
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday held talks with Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Macron reaffirmed France’s solidarity and its commitment to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s air defences amid repeated attacks involving Iranian missiles and drones.
