Trump Pauses Iran Strikes After ‘Productive Conversations’ – Claims Contested by Tehran

Donald Trump announced a pause in planned military strikes against Iran, citing “very solid and productive conversations” between U.S. And Iranian officials. However, these claims were swiftly refuted by Tehran, creating a significant discrepancy in accounts of ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Trump Hails ‘Very Good and Productive’ Talks

In a post on his Truth Social account on March 23, 2026, President Trump stated he had instructed the U.S. Military to postpone attacks on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. This followed what he described as two days of “very good and productive conversations” with Iran.

Trump elaborated on these discussions, telling Fox Business that recent talks involved U.S. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting with their Iranian counterparts on Sunday night. He further asserted that Iran “wants very much to make a deal” and “they imply business.”

Iran Denies Talks, Calls Claims ‘Fake News’

Tehran vehemently rejected Trump’s assertions. The Iranian foreign ministry dismissed the reports of talks as false, stating that Trump was “backed down.” According to the state-owned IRAN newspaper, “Remarks by the US president are part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time to implement his military plans.”

The Fars news agency echoed this denial, stating there had been no direct communication with the U.S., either directly or through intermediaries. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf further reinforced this position, stating online, “No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”

White House Response: ‘A Fluid Situation’

The White House addressed Iran’s denial, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating, “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions, and the US will not negotiate through the press.” She added, “This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House.”

Trump also suggested potential joint control of the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of installing a “very respected” leader in the region.

Market Reaction

The announcement of postponed strikes and potential talks led to a surge in global stock markets. S&P 500 futures, which had been down over 1%, were poised to open significantly higher, with Nasdaq 100 futures also set to soar. Dow futures were projected to surge 1,000 points at the opening bell. Oil prices also experienced a sharp decline.