Trump signals regime change in Iran, claims of dialogue denied

US President Donald Trump, on Monday, claimed that the US has held “intense” discussions with Iranian authorities—a claim denied by Tehran—and also reportedly stated that a “regime change” is occurring in Iran, according to US media reports. In a phone interview, Trump “affirmed … that what is happening in Iran can be described as a regime change,” CNBC reported. In that interview, the US president hinted at major changes in efforts to resolve the three-week conflict, although details about the claimed talks remain unclear, such as who participated and how or where the discussions might have taken place. Tehran firmly rejected Trump’s claims about the talks, with Iranian officials repeatedly emphasising that no negotiations are underway. Trump told CNBC shortly after a Truth Social post that the US is “very determined” to reach a deal with Iran and expressed hope that something substantive could be achieved through the discussions. The news follows an earlier announcement on Truth Social that he had instructed the military to halt strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days to allow potential diplomatic progress. Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on 28 February, with reported casualties exceeding 1,300 people. Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and aviation.