Iran Rejects Trump's Claim of Negotiations to End War

US President Donald Trump claimed to have negotiated with Iran to end the war. However, Iran’s rejection of Trump’s claim was immediate. According to CNN on Monday (23/3/2026), Trump wrote in all capital letters on Truth Social that he had decided to postpone the threatened attack based on the “tone and content” of the discussions. “I am pleased to report that the United States and the country of Iran have held, over the past two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump said. “Based on the touch and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout this week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone all military attacks on Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, conditional on the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions,” he continued. Trump had threatened to attack Iran’s power plants on Monday (23/3) night if the country did not allow the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened. Until last week, Trump said he was not interested in a ceasefire with Iran. “We can talk, but I don’t want a ceasefire,” he said on Friday afternoon (20/3). Iran Rejects Trump’s Claim Iran stated that there were no negotiations with the United States (US). Iran dismissed reports of talks amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. According to Anadolu Agency on Tuesday (24/3/2026), speaking to the official IRNA news agency, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that over the past few days, messages had been conveyed through “friendly countries” indicating the US request for negotiations to end the war, adding that Iran responded in accordance with its “principled position.” Baghaei said Iran’s response included warnings about “serious consequences” from any attack on the country’s vital infrastructure, emphasising that any action targeting Iran’s energy facilities would be met with a “firm, immediate, and effective” response from its armed forces. Baghaei also denied that any negotiations or dialogue with the US had taken place over the past 24 days since the outbreak of what he called the “imposed war.” Baghaei added that Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending the war “remains unchanged.” Trump Claims Talks with Key Iranian Figures Trump claimed his country was speaking with important people in the Iranian regime to try to end the war. However, Trump admitted he was not speaking with Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. When asked who the US was talking to in Iran, Trump said, “An important figure. Don’t forget: We have eliminated the leadership in phase one, phase two, and most of phase three. But we are dealing with a man whom I believe is the most respected and the leader, you know, it’s a bit tricky, they have eliminated–we have eliminated everyone.” Trump said his special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were involved in the talks but did not mention who they were communicating with on the Iranian side. When pressed by reporters on whether the US was talking to Khamenei, Trump said, “No, not the Supreme Leader.” “We haven’t heard from his son. Occasionally you see statements made–but we don’t know if he’s still alive,” Trump said. “I don’t consider him the true leader,” Trump added. War Continues Senior military advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Mohsen Rezaei, said the war with the United States (US) and Israel will continue. Rezaei said the war will go on until Iran receives full compensation for the damage it has suffered. In a speech broadcast on television on Monday (23/3), Rezaei also vowed that Iran would continue fighting until “all economic sanctions are lifted, and legally binding international guarantees are obtained to prevent US intervention in Iran.” “We see that our armed forces are conducting operations and activities strongly. Our leadership project, with the election of the new leader, is under his control,” Rezaei said. The advisor claimed that “the war has essentially ended” more than a week ago and that “the United States is ready to stop and seek a ceasefire.” But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “pushed to continue,” he said.