War Costs Balloon, US Opens Diplomacy with Iran but Deploys Additional Troops
The surge in war costs and global market pressures are driving the United States to open diplomatic channels with Iran. However, at the same time, Washington is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East.
Citing Bloomberg on Wednesday (25/3/2026), US President Donald Trump stated that talks with Iran are underway to end the conflict that has lasted 25 days and shaken global markets. He even claimed that Tehran has offered a “gift” as a sign of good faith.
Trump did not detail its form but described its value as very substantial and related to energy flows in the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday (24/3/2026), a Thai-flagged vessel was reported to have passed through this strategic route.
He noted that the talks involve special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance.
Trump also claimed that Iran is beginning to agree to several initial parameters of the deal, with the main condition from the US being that Tehran must not possess nuclear weapons—a longstanding red line for Washington since the nuclear agreement era under President Barack Obama, which the US abandoned in 2018.
“They are talking to us, and the talks make sense. It all starts with them not having nuclear weapons,” said Trump.
The White House affirmed that the military operation titled “Operation Epic Fury” continues to pursue its set objectives. In fact, the presence of US Marines in the region opens the possibility of ground operations.
“President Trump always keeps all military options on the table,” said the White House spokesperson.
This move indicates that even as negotiation channels are opened, the US is maintaining military pressure on Iran.
Reports indicate that the US has submitted a 15-point proposal to end the war, delivered through Pakistan. However, it remains unclear who on the Iranian side received it and what their response is.
Other sources suggest that high-level talks could take place in the near future, but they are still awaiting Tehran’s reply.
On the ground, the Iran-Israel conflict continues unabated. Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz, while Israel presses on with high-intensity strikes.