Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks via Pakistan Are Progressing as Troops Deploy
Trump said Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf was among Iranian officials communicating with the United States, while Iran’s parliament speaker denied any negotiations, adding a direct contradiction to earlier claims of progress.
The statement is fully supported by a high-profile interview given by Donald Trump to the Financial Times on March 29, 2026. Major international news organizations (FT, BBC, The Guardian) and regional outlets (BlockBeats, PANews) all reported the same key details: that indirect talks via Pakistan are advancing, a deal is possible, and Trump is simultaneously considering the seizure of Iranian oil assets and Kharg Island amid ongoing troop deployments.
President Trump said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf was among the Iranian officials communicating with the United States about ending the war, according to remarks to the New York Post on March 31, and said more details would come in about a week. Qalibaf denied that any negotiations with the United States were taking place. The new statements add a direct dispute over whether contacts are underway, alongside earlier claims that indirect U.S.-Iran talks via Pakistan were progressing and that Trump hoped to secure a deal before the April 6 deadline while reported plans for strikes on Iranian energy facilities were paused for 10 days.
- Indirect talks: Negotiations carried out through an intermediary rather than direct formal meetings between the two sides.
- Troop deployment: The movement of military forces into a region to support operations, deterrence, or readiness.
- Khark Island: A major Iranian oil export hub in the Persian Gulf that has been referenced as a potential strategic target.