President Donald Trump, after postponing U.S. strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure citing new negotiations with Tehran, mentioned on Monday that talks will proceed and that there are “main factors of settlement.”
“They don’t seem to be going to have a nuclear weapon, that is primary,” Trump instructed reporters in Florida.
“That is primary, two and three. They’ll by no means have a nuclear weapon,” the president mentioned. “They’ve agreed to that,” he added.
In an announcement obtained by ABC Information, Iran’s Ministry of International Affairs denied talks ongoing with Iran, saying that Trump goals to purchase time for U.S. army plans and scale back power costs.
Iran has beforehand dedicated to not construct a nuclear weapon as a part of negotiations with the West, but continued to complement nuclear materials to ranges nearing weapons grade.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters earlier than boarding Air Drive One at Palm Seaside Worldwide Airport, March 23, 2026 in West Palm Seaside, Florida.
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Photographs
Iran’s intent to construct a nuclear weapon, based on Trump, was a central justification for the battle.
This was regardless of the U.S. intelligence group’s evaluation that Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon within the wake of final summer time’s Operation Midnight Hammer, which Trump mentioned “obliterated” the nation’s nuclear weapons program.
When requested on Monday how the U.S. would get Iran’s enriched uranium if these talks go effectively, Trump urged People would go in to grab it. Specialists beforehand instructed ABC Information {that a} large American force on the ground would doubtless be wanted to take the nuclear materials, which is believed to be buried deep underground at amenities bombed by the U.S. final 12 months.
“Very straightforward, if we now have a take care of them, we’re happening and we’ll take it,” Trump mentioned.
Trump additionally mentioned he needed to see a “very critical type of regime change” in Iran.
Over the weekend, Trump had issued an ultimatum to Iran to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz inside 48 hours or face main assaults on its energy vegetation and different power websites.
Trump modified course on Monday morning, saying on social media that he ordered the Protection Division to postpone the strikes for 5 days following what he described as productive conversations about ending the battle.
Iran’s overseas ministry denied talks with the U.S., Iran’s semi-official Mehr Information Company reported.
Trump instructed reporters that the U.S. is speaking with a “prime particular person” in Iran, however not the brand new supreme chief, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The president didn’t provide specifics on who precisely the U.S. is negotiating with, solely saying he’s “a person who I imagine is essentially the most revered.” Simply on Friday, Trump had mentioned there was “no one to speak to” after U.S. and Israeli strikes killed a lot of the Iranian management.
Steve Witkoff, White Home particular envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, led the talks for the U.S., Trump mentioned. The president added that the talks went “completely” and would proceed by cellphone on Monday. He mentioned {that a} assembly would happen “quickly.”
Jared Kushner and Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff watch as President Donald Trump presents the Board of Peace occasion on the World Financial Discussion board, January 22, 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs
“We’re doing a five-day interval. We’ll see how that goes, and if it goes effectively, we’ll find yourself with settling this, in any other case we simply hold bombing our little hearts out,” Trump added.
Trump mentioned there’s a “very critical probability of creating a deal,” however that he’s not “guaranteeing something.”
“All I’m saying is we’re within the throes of an actual risk of creating a deal,” he mentioned. “And I feel, if I have been a betting man, I might guess for it. However once more, I am not guaranteeing something.”
Trump, when requested whether or not he believed Israel would abide by any peace deal, mentioned that Israel can be “very glad.”
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a bridge, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the U.S.-Israeli battle with Iran, close to Qasmiyeh, Lebanon, March 22, 2026.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters
Trump’s pause on assaults on Iranian power infrastructure prompted a optimistic response within the inventory and oil markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Common soared on Monday, and the value of oil dropped about 10% to about $90 a barrel.
Nonetheless, Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz stays in place.
When requested who can be in command of the strait after the battle, Trump mentioned it could be “collectively managed.”
“Perhaps me, me and the following ayatollah, whoever that’s,” the president mentioned.
In the meantime, thousands more U.S. Marines and several other Navy ships are heading to the Center East, and the Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in supplemental funding.
When requested whether or not the administration would nonetheless request that $200 billion if these talks finish the battle, Trump replied, “It will be good to have.”
