• العربية
  • فارسی
Brand
  • Iran Insight
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Analysis
  • Special Report
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Iran Insight
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Analysis
  • Special Report
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Theme
  • Language
    • العربية
    • فارسی
  • Iran Insight
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Analysis
  • Special Report
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
All rights reserved for Volant Media UK Limited
volant media logo

Trump says Iran called US, deal possible as strikes loomed

Mar 23, 2026, 13:53 GMT+0

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran had reached out to Washington for talks ahead of planned strikes on its energy infrastructure.

“They called, I didn’t call. They want to make a deal, and we are very willing to make a deal,” Trump said.

He said the United States had been prepared to strike major Iranian power plants, adding: “We were expected to blow up their largest electric generating plants… why would they want that?”

Trump said any deal would require Iran to abandon nuclear weapons, saying: “They’re not going to have nuclear weapons anymore… any of that stuff is no deal.”

He also said the US could take control of Iran’s enriched uranium if an agreement is reached: “If we have a deal with them, we’re going down and we’ll take it ourselves.”

Trump described Iran as “a country that has been evil for 47 years,” adding it had caused “death all over the world” and remained a longstanding threat.

Most Viewed

Iran diplomacy wobbles as factions compete to avoid looking soft on US
1
INSIGHT

Iran diplomacy wobbles as factions compete to avoid looking soft on US

2
ANALYSIS

The politics of pink: how Iran uses cuteness to rebrand violence

3

Scam messages seek crypto for ships’ safe passage through Hormuz, firm warns

4
EXCLUSIVE

Family told missing teen was alive, then received his body 60 days later

5
INSIGHT

Is Iran entering its Gorbachev moment?

Banner
Banner

Spotlight

  • Diplomacy tolls at Hormuz as conflict returns to its doorstep
    OPINION

    Diplomacy tolls at Hormuz as conflict returns to its doorstep

  • Opposition to US talks grows in Tehran as ceasefire deadline nears
    INSIGHT

    Opposition to US talks grows in Tehran as ceasefire deadline nears

  • Tehran moderates see ‘no deal–no war’ limbo as worst outcome
    INSIGHT

    Tehran moderates see ‘no deal–no war’ limbo as worst outcome

  • The future has been switched off here
    TEHRAN INSIDER

    The future has been switched off here

  • Lights out, then gunfire: Witnesses recount Mashhad protest crackdown
    VOICES FROM IRAN

    Lights out, then gunfire: Witnesses recount Mashhad protest crackdown

  • Is Iran entering its Gorbachev moment?
    INSIGHT

    Is Iran entering its Gorbachev moment?

•
•
•

More Stories

Trump says US, Iran have ‘major points of agreement’ after talks

Mar 23, 2026, 13:45 GMT+0

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States and Iran have “major points of agreement” following recent discussions.

“We have had strong talks,” Trump said, adding that “they want to make a deal, we want to make a deal too.”

He said talks continued into Sunday evening and involved officials including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Trump added that “if they carry through, will end conflict,” but said “we’ll see where talks lead.”

Netanyahu says Israel advancing as Iran weakened

Mar 23, 2026, 13:38 GMT+0

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Iran was in a weakened position compared to Israel, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of talks with Tehran, Israeli outlet Bhol reported.

“We are working to bring Israel to places it has never been, and Iran to places it has never been. They are down, we are up,” Netanyahu said ahead of a briefing to a parliamentary intelligence subcommittee.

His remarks came after Trump said the United States and Iran had held “very good and productive” talks on resolving hostilities and ordered a five-day pause on planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.

CNBC says Trump sees Iran talks as ‘regime change’

Mar 23, 2026, 13:06 GMT+0

CNBC host Joe Kernen said US President Donald Trump described ongoing contacts with Iran as effectively amounting to “regime change,” according to remarks on air.

Kernen said Trump told him the talks were not with a single leader but with “representatives,” adding Iran presents itself as having a broader structure.

He said Trump “went on to say, or insist that this is regime change, because it’s totally different people that were involved.”

Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan mediating between US and Iran - Axios

Mar 23, 2026, 12:50 GMT+0

Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan have been passing messages between the United States and Iran in recent days in an effort to de-escalate the conflict, Axios reported, citing a US source.

Senior officials from the three countries held separate talks with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the source said.

“The mediation is ongoing and making progress… the discussion is about ending the war and resolving all outstanding issues,” the source said, adding: “We hope to have answers soon.”

Britain welcomes productive US-Iran talks, seeks de-escalation

Mar 23, 2026, 12:43 GMT+0

Britain welcomes productive talks between US President Donald Trump and Iran, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday, adding that the country continued to seek de-escalation in the Middle East.

“Any reports of productive talks are welcome,” the spokesperson said about Trump’s earlier announcement that he would pause planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, following what he described as “very good and productive conversations” with Tehran.

The spokesperson added that a swift end to the war was in the global interest and said the Strait of Hormuz needed to be reopened.