NPR Adds Details from Trump's Remarks on Iran Talks

NPR made significant changes to its article about the conflict between the US and Iran, adding new details from President Trump's remarks on the talks. The most notable addition is Trump's statement that the US will 'hold off attacking Iran's energy infrastructure for five days while the talks continue.' This change provides context to the ongoing negotiations and offers a more nuanced understanding of the situation. Another addition is Trump's claim that the US and Iran have had 'very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,' which contradicts Iran's denial of any talks. These changes demonstrate a shift in the narrative, suggesting that the situation is more complex and dynamic than initially reported. The added details are significant because they give readers a better understanding of the current state of the conflict and the potential for a resolution.

Related Changes

Iran threatens strikes on Gulf power plants following Trump's Strait of Hormuz ultimatum +841 -243
Special Series Middle East conflict Conflict in the Middle East has been escalating. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them. By NPR Staff Commercial vessels are seen in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, in northern Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday.
− Getty Images hide caption President Trump says the United States is negotiating with Iran to end the war now in its fourth week.
+ Getty Images hide caption President Trump on Monday said the United States is negotiating with Iran to end the war now in its fourth week. He said the U.S.
− Iran denied having talks.
+ will hold off attacking Iran's energy infrastructure for five days while the talks continue. It came hours before a deadline he had imposed for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. obliteration of Iranian power plants.
− Speaking to reporters Monday, Trump U.S.
+ But Iran's Foreign Ministry says "there is no dialogue between Tehran and Washington." Middle East conflict Iran's cultural heritage sites are being damaged by American and Israeli strikes World President Trump and Iranian officials have conflicting stories about ongoing talks Here's what else to know about the latest developments in the conflict. To jump to specific areas of coverage, use the links below: Iran talks | Lebanon | Iran threats | U.S.
− objectives include Iran halting the enrichment of uranium for its nuclear program and the U.S.
+ campaign timeline | Energy crisis President Trump said the U.S.
− removing the enriched uranium Iran already has.
+ will delay military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure while it negotiates with Iran.
− Middle East conflict Iran's cultural heritage sites are being damaged by American and Israeli strikes "If this happens, it's a great start for Iran to build itself back, and it's everything that we want," Trump told reporters on Monday.
+ Over the weekend, Trump had threatened to "obliterate" the country's power plants within 48 hours if Iran didn't let ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East conflict Trump threatens to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants as Iran strikes 2 Israeli cities But on Monday, hours before his deadline, Trump said on social media the U.S.
− He said it would be a great deal for Israel as well as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
+ and Iran have had "VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST." He said while talks continue throughout the week, the U.S. is postponing attacks on Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.
− "There is no dialogue between Tehran and Washington," Iran's Foreign Ministry said, according to the country's state broadcaster.
+ Speaking to reporters later Monday, Trump said, "We have had very, very strong talks.
− It said Trump's earlier social media post touting "productive conversations" with Tehran were meant to calm energy markets and gain time to carry out his military plans.
+ We'll see where they lead.
− Major stock indices surged and oil prices dropped on the news.
+ We have major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement." He laid out objectives, including Iran halting uranium enrichment for its nuclear program and the U.S. removing the enriched uranium already in the country.
− The Iranian speaker of parliament also denied there are talks.
+ Iran's Foreign Ministry denied entering talks with the U.S. The parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, alleged that reports of talks are "fake news" that are "intended to manipulate financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire in which America and Israel are trapped." Stocks surged and oil prices dropped Monday morning.
− Here's what else to know about the latest developments in the conflict.
+ The Foreign Ministry did confirm receiving messages from friendly countries in the region that said the U.S. demanded talks with Tehran to end the war.
− To jump to specific areas of coverage, use the links below: Iran threats | U.S.
+ And NPR has confirmed that backchannel efforts are underway, with regional players working behind the scenes to de-escalate tensions and prevent a broader conflict. Iran's president and foreign minister have held phone calls with officials in Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt.
− campaign timeline | Energy crisis People wave flags as they demonstrate in support of the Iranian government on March 22, 2026 in central Tehran, Iran.
+ NPR has learned that these countries are transferring messages and playing a role in efforts toward de-escalation. Egypt's president has traveled to almost every Gulf capital to meet with rulers in the region in recent days. Egyptian officials tell NPR there's an effort to try to lay the groundwork for a 30- to 60-day ceasefire or a detente of some kind to keep Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from directly responding to Iran's attacks on their territory and widening the war.
+ The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to speak to reporters. President Trump's announcement about negotiations came as thousands more U.S. Marines are headed to the Middle East. Observers are cautious about interpreting Trump's comments. Twice in the past year Washington and Tehran were entering diplomatic talks when the U.S. and Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran. Israel's military struck another bridge in southern Lebanon Monday, according to Lebanese state media. It's the latest in stepped-up Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which has become a second front in the Middle East conflict. Israel's military says it is targeting bridges that are vital to stopping the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah from transferring weapons south. In early March, Hezbollah began firing rockets at northern Israel in support of Iran in the war and following months of Israel's attacks in Lebanon despite a ceasefire. Israel has responded with strikes and sweeping evacuation warnings for residents in southern Lebanon and around the capital, Beirut. More than 1,000 people have been killed and more than 2,800 wounded by Israel's attacks in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese government's disaster management office. More than 1.2 million people have been forced out of their homes in Lebanon. Ali al-Hek is sheltering in a tent with his parents and four siblings in a stadium in Beirut that's sheltering thousands of displaced people. "Airstrike warnings come so strong you couldn't run from them, there was no escape," he says. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israel's wider wave of attacks is "a prelude to ground invasion." The Israel military's chief of staff says its fight against Hezbollah "has only just begun." People wave flags as they demonstrate in support of the Iranian government on March 22, 2026 in central Tehran, Iran.
Majid Saeedi/Getty Images hide caption Iranian officials warned Monday that if the U.S. attacks Iran's power plants, Iran would retaliate against energy and water infrastructure across the Gulf region – including in countries that host U.S. military bases. In a separate statement, Iran's Defense Council said "non-belligerent" countries could only transit through the Strait of Hormuz through coordination with Iran, and warned that any attack on Iran's coasts or islands would trigger mine-laying across Gulf sea lanes that could effectively block maritime traffic beyond the narrow strait. Israeli helicopter gunships fly along the Lebanon-Israel border in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel on March 22, 2026. Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images hide caption U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Monday that the Strait of Hormuz is "physically open," but argued ships are staying away because Iran was firing missiles and drones at vessels. Cooper made the comments in an interview with Iran International, a London-based Persian news outlet. Cooper said the U.S. campaign in Iran is "ahead or on plan," saying that Iran's military capabilities are deteriorating. He also accused Iran of increasingly targeting civilians across the Middle East. "They're operating in a sign of desperation…in the last couple of weeks they've attacked civilian targets very deliberately, more than 300 times," Cooper said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, accompanied by Dimona Mayor, Benny Biton (L), speak to media while visiting the area destroyed by an Iranian ballistic missile last night, leaving over 50 wounded residents on March 22, 2026 in Dimona, Israel. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images Europe hide caption Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, warned Monday that the global economy faces a "major, major threat" from the war's disruption to oil and gas flows. "No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction," Birol said speaking at Australia's National Press Club in Canberra Monday. Middle East conflict Why it's so hard for world leaders to bring down oil and gasoline prices He added: "The situation is very severe." "At least 40 energy facilities across nine countries have also been severely damaged in the conflict." Birol said the current situation was worse than the combined oil crises of 1973 and 1979, which together lost 10 million barrels per day. "And today, only as of today," we lost 11 million barrels per day – so more than two major oil shocks put together," he said. Birol said the IEA was consulting with governments in Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East about releasing more stockpiles of oil, in addition to the "historic" 400 million barrels of oil released earlier this month.
− Rebecca Rosman contributed to this report from Paris.
+ Aya Batrawy contributed to this report from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Carrie Kahn from Tel Aviv, Israel, Rebecca Rosman from Paris and Alex Leff from Washington.
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