Iran denies Trump negotiation claim, says ‘There are no talks’

2026-03-23 - 18:43

After US President Donald Trump publicly stated that “very good and productive” talks with Iran had led to the postponement of threatened US military strikes, Tehran flatly rejected the assertion. Iran’s Mehr news agency quoted the country’s Foreign Ministry, which dismissed Trump’s statement as an attempt “to reduce energy prices,” saying, “There are no talks between Tehran and Washington.” Though Trump is leaning into the idea of negotiations, it remains unclear whether any progress has been made toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to dw.com. Iran has firmly denied holding any negotiations with the United States since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict, contradicting claims by Donald Trump that both sides have engaged in “very good and productive conversations” toward resolving hostilities in the Middle East, according to Al-Jazeera. The conflicting narratives come as regional tensions intensify, with analysts warning that both Washington and Tehran are positioning themselves to gain leverage rather than pursue immediate compromise. Experts also caution that Israel’s exclusion from any potential agreement could prolong the conflict, while failure to reach a deal in the coming days may trigger a significant escalation, forcing Gulf countries to boost defence spending and reconsider reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.