US President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Washington DC, on March 20, 2026. NATHAN HOWARD / REUTERS
President Donald Trump said, on Monday, March 23, that the United States and Iran had held "VERY GOOD" talks towards ending the three-week Middle East war, putting threatened US attacks on Iran's power plants on hold in a stunning about-turn.
The bombshell announcement came hours before the expiration of his two-day ultimatum – in which he threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power infrastructure if it did not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz – Trump suddenly reported with little detail that diplomacy was underway, after he earlier shunned talks.
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Trump caught unprepared by escalation of war with Iran
