Washington DC — President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States and Iran have reached “major points of agreement” and that direct talks with Iranian leadership are expected later in the day a development that could mark the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump said the discussions would take place by phone and could dramatically shift the trajectory of the war within days.
“If it goes well, I think we could wind this down within the next five-day period,” Trump said. He added that if diplomacy fails, the administration is prepared to intensify military action. “They’ll either make a deal or we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out,” he told reporters.
Trump confirmed he has not spoken directly with Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership of Iran earlier this month following the death of his father, and did not identify which Iranian officials the US intends to engage.
Iran Denies Talks — Trump Dismisses the Denial
Within hours of Trump’s announcement, Iranian state media issued a flat denial, insisting no official contact had taken place and accusing Washington of spreading misinformation.
Trump dismissed the denial, saying Iran’s communications infrastructure has been severely degraded by weeks of airstrikes and that the regime is struggling to coordinate consistent public messaging as a result.
US officials speaking privately said the administration has been applying calibrated military pressure while deliberately leaving diplomatic openings an approach they believe is nudging Iran toward a negotiation posture despite its public statements.
The Backdrop — Weeks of Escalation
The reported move toward talks comes after one of the most intense weeks of the conflict.
Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum on Saturday threatening to obliterate Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully reopened to commercial shipping. Iran vowed “zero restraint” in response, threatening to target energy infrastructure and financial institutions across the Gulf. Iran struck the southern Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad, injuring approximately 180 people and bypassing Israeli air defences near Israel’s main nuclear research facility. A 22-nation coalition declared readiness to support safe passage through the strait. The US State Department issued a worldwide security alert warning Americans globally to exercise increased caution amid Iran-linked threats.
US Central Command confirmed it has struck more than 8,000 military targets since the war began, including 130 Iranian naval vessels describing it as the largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since the Second World War.
What Any Agreement Would Need to Cover
The White House has not released details on the subjects to be addressed in Monday’s expected call. However, US officials said any agreement would likely need to cover conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, limits on Iranian missile and drone activity, and new safeguards around US and allied assets in the region.
Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejected any concessions as recently as Sunday, warning that a US strike on Iranian power plants would trigger a response that drives global energy prices even higher. Oil prices surged above $115 a barrel following Trump’s Saturday ultimatum.
Foreign policy experts cautioned that even if Monday’s call proceeds, a durable agreement will require overcoming decades of accumulated distrust and navigating intense internal political pressures on both sides.
As of Monday afternoon, the administration had not confirmed the exact timing of the expected call, but officials indicated preparations were underway across multiple agencies a signal, analysts said, of how significant the moment could prove to be.
The development was first reported by multiple US outlets including the Associated Press, Reuters and Fox News. Iran’s official response has been monitored by Al Jazeera and the BBC.
For the latest on the Iran conflict and Operation Epic Fury, visit M10News.com.
This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more facts are confirmed.
