Trump denies rushing to reach an agreement, says military actions against Iran will continue

On March 26, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington that U.S. President Trump denied being eager to reach an agreement with Iran and stated that U.S. military actions against Iran are ongoing. Earlier, Iran had said it had formally responded to the U.S. "15-point plan," claiming that the U.S. statements about negotiations were merely a "deception" tactic.

On the same day, Trump vehemently criticized U.S. media reports suggesting he was desperate to end the war through diplomatic means, insisting that it was Iran seeking to restart negotiations. He stated that whether a ceasefire occurs depends on Iran, and in the meantime, U.S. bombings will continue. He also mentioned that he does not care whether an agreement with Iran is reached, saying, "I am not in a hurry at all."

Trump further stated that he is uncertain whether Iran will comply with his deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz by the 27th, and he is also unsure if negotiations will go smoothly, but "we have plenty of time."

Additionally, when asked by reporters at the meeting, Trump refused to respond to whether the U.S. would take action to control Iran's enriched uranium, calling the question "absurd." He also claimed that controlling Iran's oil exports is "an option," but it is not convenient to discuss it in detail at the moment.

On the 21st, Trump posted on social media, threatening that Iran must open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, or he would destroy its various power plants. On the 23rd, he posted again, stating that the U.S. and Iran had engaged in "very good and productive" dialogue over the past two days, and the U.S. would "delay by 5 days" airstrikes on Iranian power plants.

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif stated on the 25th that in recent days, the U.S. had conveyed messages to Iran through several friendly countries, and Iran had used these mediators to issue warnings or express its position to the U.S. "This is not negotiation or dialogue, but rather information exchange." Iranian state television reported that a senior official said Iran rejected the U.S. proposed ceasefire plan and put forward five conditions for a ceasefire from its side. Iranian media on the 26th cited informed sources stating that Iran's response had been formally issued through the mediating countries on the evening of the 25th. Iran is well aware that "this time, the Americans are again using negotiations as a pretext to pave the way for new crimes."