The current US/Israel war against Iran seems to be diverging in multiple ways: President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran have reached “major points of agreement” and paused planned US strikes on Iranian power plants for five days, while Iran denied any talks took place and Israel launched a new wide-scale strike package across Tehran.
Trump’s pause applied specifically to US attacks on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. He said they had held “very good and productive conversations” over the last two days on a “complete and total resolution” of hostilities, and said Iran had “one more opportunity” to end its threats.
He repeated that both sides want a deal, that phone talks would most likely happen on March 23, and that there are 15 points of agreement, with Iran giving up nuclear weapons framed as points one, two and three.
Trump added that Iran called first. He said senior Iranian leaders were involved. He said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had spoken with Iranian officials, including a “respected” leader, though not Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Iran publicly rejected the central premise of that claim. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said no negotiations or discussions with the US had taken place since the war began at the end of February, and said Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending the war had not changed.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf went further, calling the reports “fake news” used to manipulate financial and oil markets and to help the US and Israel escape a “quagmire”.
Iranian state-linked outlets denied direct communication and also denied talks through intermediaries.
Israel launched attacks
While Washington described a diplomatic window, Israel intensified combat operations. The Israeli military said it hit IRGC air defence and ground forces headquarters, an IRGC Quds Force base, an intelligence site, a Defence Ministry missile manufacturing site, and other production and research facilities.
It later said it launched another wave targeting what it called infrastructure of the Iranian “terror regime” across Tehran. The attacks caused power outages and damage across the capital.
The operational split widened further because the Israeli strikes followed Trump’s decision to delay US attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure and came after Israel’s March 18 strike on the South Pars gas field.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also vowed to push Iran “to places it has never been before,” undercutting Trump’s claim that Israel would be “very happy” with a diplomatic settlement.
Iran, meanwhile, signaled that the war front remains active. The IRGC said it had launched its 77th wave of strikes targeting northern, central, and southern Israel using “super-heavy and point-and-shoot systems, Khyber Shaken and destructive drones”.
Tehran also said it targeted US bases at Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, Al Kharj in Saudi Arabia, and Al Dhafra in the UAE. Iran’s National Defence Council also warned that any attempt to attack the Iranian coast or islands would cause “all communication lines in the Persian Gulf to be mined”.
The pressure point remains energy infrastructure and shipping. Trump’s earlier 48-hour ultimatum demanded Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels, with the threat that the US would otherwise “obliterate” Iranian power plants.
He later extended the timeline by five days.
A fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass through the strait, and that the war triggered a global energy crisis and sent oil prices soaring from February 28. After Trump’s latest comments, oil prices were reported down sharply and Wall Street stocks mostly rose early on Monday.
Ghalibaf explicitly tied the alleged “fake news” to financial and oil-market manipulation, claiming Trump’s statements were designed to reduce energy prices and buy time for military plans.
Tehran officials have maintained that the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains open, except to ships associated with its enemies.
Information for this story was found via Al Jazeera, Sky News, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
