Over the weekend, President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran, stating that if they did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz by Monday evening, the U.S. would strike their power plants and send them back into the dark ages.
However, on Monday morning, he announced on social media that ongoing talks were fruitful and that he would pause the strikes for a period of five days.
As he spoke to reporters on Monday morning before departing on Air Force One from West Palm Beach, Florida—reportedly with a stop in Tennessee for a “Memphis Safe Task Force” roundtable—he provided additional information on the situation.
He emphasized that Iran needed to reach a deal, declaring they’d better make a deal, or we’ll just keep bombing them:
TRUMP: "They want very much to make a deal…We're going to get together TODAY!"
"We're gonna end up settling this. Otherwise we're gonna just keep bombing our little hearts out." pic.twitter.com/WOJpw7hAkD
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 23, 2026
Trump added that he and the mullahs, most likely, will be talking later today:
President Donald Trump’s administration will speak with Iran’s leadership later Monday after the two sides found “major points of agreement,” the president says.
Trump made the comments while speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One on Monday. He did not name the Iranian officials engaged in talks, but said he had not spoken with Mojtaba Khamenei, who was formally installed as Iran’s supreme leader earlier this month.
“We’re gonna get together today,” Trump said, saying the meeting will be by phone. He predicted that the war could end in the next 5-day period if the exchange “goes well.”
He was evasive about the identity of the individuals involved and who might become the new leader of Iran. However, he dismissed suggestions that it might be Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Although he has been named the new leader by what’s left of the regime, Mojtaba has yet to make a public appearance:
TRUMP: Nobody wants to be the new leader of Iran.
"Perhaps we'll be able to solve that problem." pic.twitter.com/m01aGU4G3R
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 23, 2026
He did say again, however, that the end could be near:
“We have had very, very strong talks. We’ll see where they lead. We have major points of agreement… They went, I would say perfectly. I would say that if they carry through with that, it’ll end that problem, that conflict.”
.@POTUS on Iran: "We have had very, very strong talks. We'll see where they lead. We have major points of agreement… They went, I would say perfectly. I would say that if they carry through with that, it'll end that problem, that conflict." https://t.co/PZtpN5T0jG pic.twitter.com/k9NjYAbvnH
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 23, 2026
.@POTUS: "We're dealing with the man who, I believe, is the most respected and the 'leader.' It's a little tough — we've wiped out everybody."
REPORTER: "Is that the Supreme Leader?"@POTUS: "No." pic.twitter.com/cdAgT4jljP
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 23, 2026
That said, Iranian state media denied that any deal was close:
Trump first announced talks with Iran earlier Monday morning, only to be met with a denial from Iranian state media.
Trump dismissed that denial while speaking to reporters, saying some Iranian officials are in confusion thanks to the destabilization of the nation’s communication infrastructure.
We’ll keep you updated.
