President Donald Trump retracted his threat on Monday to attack Iran's power plants and extended the deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by five days. He announced productive conversations with Tehran, though Iran categorically denied them. Markets reacted with rising US stocks and falling oil prices.
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday, March 23, via his Truth Social network that the United States and Iran had held 'very good and productive conversations' over the past two days toward a 'complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.' He stated that the decision to postpone 'all and every military attacks' on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days was based on the 'tone and tónica' of those talks, which would continue through the week. Trump claimed agreement on 15 points with Tehran, including no Iranian nuclear bomb, and mentioned dealing with 'a man I believe is the most respected,' unnamed to avoid risks. He denied contact with the supreme leader and stressed his interlocutors represented the regime, despite challenges identifying decision-makers after Israeli assassinations, with Mojtaba Jamenei in the shadows, per Axios. Iran denied any direct talks, claiming Trump aimed to calm energy markets, and Iranian Parliament President Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf called the claims 'fake news' to manipulate finances. US sources cited by Axios pointed to intermediaries Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan: their foreign ministers spoke with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi. Egyptian FM Badr Abdelatty joined a Sunday call, stressing containment of the conflict. A possible meeting in Islamabad is planned with Ghalibaf and US reps like Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and JD Vance. This follows Trump's Saturday ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours or face massive attacks, met with Iranian threats to Israel and Gulf states. The war began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
