On Monday, March 23, 2026, President Trump announced that the United States and Iran have reached a major consensus in their negotiations. The President shared this news with the media at a Florida airport before heading to Memphis on Monday, stating that extensive discussions took place between the U.S. and Iran on Sunday, resulting in a significant agreement. Additionally, the talks between the two parties were set to continue on Monday.
It was disclosed that the talks initiated on Sunday were led by U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with discussions lasting late into the night.
President Trump did not reveal which Iranian leader participated in the talks but mentioned it was a respected senior Iranian figure, not the Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
“We had very in-depth discussions. We are looking forward to the outcome. We have reached a major consensus, I would say, in almost all aspects,” he said.
The President added, “They are very keen to reach an agreement. We also want to reach an agreement. We may have talks over the phone today.”
“I think the talks are going very smoothly,” he further added, noting that this was an initiative taken by Iran for the talks. “I believe that if they continue, it can resolve this issue, end this conflict, and I think it will end in a very substantive way.”
“We will undergo a five-day observation period to see how things progress. If all goes well, we can ultimately resolve this issue. Otherwise, we will continue intense bombardment,” Trump stated.
The President mentioned that Iran, feeling pressured, reached out to Washington proactively, wishing to negotiate regarding their planned attacks on energy infrastructure.
“It was their call, not mine. They want to make a deal, and we are very willing to make a deal,” Trump said.
He stated that the U.S. had been prepared to strike Iran’s major power plants and added, “We were actually planning to bomb their biggest power plant…”
Before the President’s remarks, Iran’s Fars News Agency cited an unnamed Iranian source who claimed that Iran had not engaged in direct contact with the U.S., “nor passed through any intermediary.”
These claims could not be independently verified, and Iranian officials did not immediately comment on them.
President Trump reiterated that any possible agreement would require Iran to abandon nuclear weapons, stating, “They will no longer have nuclear weapons… Any such terms cannot count as an agreement.”
“We do not want to see any nuclear weapons, any nuclear bombs,” Trump said.
“We want nuclear dust,” Trump said. “I think we will get to that point. We have already agreed on that.”
He also mentioned that if an agreement is reached, the U.S. will take over Iran’s enriched uranium.
“If we reach an agreement with them, we will take responsibility, we will take it over ourselves,” the President added.
When asked about when the Hormuz Strait would reopen, Trump replied that if negotiations with Iran proceed smoothly, he believes the strait will open soon.
“The strait will be jointly controlled – decided by me and the Supreme Leader of Iran,” the President said, adding that it does not matter who the current or next Supreme Leader of Iran will be.
Trump stated that if an agreement is reached, the Hormuz Strait will reopen soon.
“Once we reach an agreement, oil prices will plummet,” he said.
Furthermore, the President hinted at a “very serious regime change in Iran.” Referring to the attack launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iranian leaders at the beginning of the war, leading to the deaths of several senior Iranian officials.
“A regime change is inevitable,” Trump said, later revealing that the U.S. is in contact with some Iranian insiders.
“Their people know very well what they are like, they are highly respected internally, and maybe among them is the candidate we have been looking for,” the President added.
Trump mentioned that the U.S. had not received any messages from Mojtaba, the son of former Iranian Supreme Leader Hameini.
The President stated that he did not know if Mojtaba was still alive and added that he did not wish for any harm to come to Mojtaba.
Regarding the question of possible U.S. military presence in Iran, the President responded, “We do not discuss strategy.”
The President claimed that if the U.S. reaches an agreement with Iran, obtaining enriched uranium would be easy.
He said that the U.S.’s goal is a nuclear-free and peaceful Middle East.