Washington/Tehran, 24 March (H.S.): Amid the war that erupted on February 28, Tehran has received a message from Washington through intermediaries, a senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official disclosed on Monday. This development could mark the tentative start of dialogue between America and Iran. It follows US President Donald Trump's earlier hints that a settlement between the two nations remains possible.
According to a CBS News report, the Iranian official stated, We have received something meaningful from the United States via intermediaries. We are reviewing it. Trump had previously announced on social media that very good and productive conversations took place regarding a complete end to hostilities between the countries. Speaking to reporters afterward, he claimed broad agreement on nearly 15 issues, with Iranian officials now expressing a desire for peace.
Trump also rescinded his weekend ultimatum to Iran, in which he had warned of strikes on power plants unless the Strait of Hormuz—a vital shipping lane—was reopened within 48 hours. Iran's Foreign Ministry had initially denied any ongoing talks. Yet Trump's statements have sparked hope that the military confrontation may be nearing its end, even without formal diplomatic ties between the adversaries. Historically, the two have communicated indirectly through third parties.
Trump told journalists that the US is engaging a top Iranian figure, though not Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, whose name he declined to disclose. He went further, asserting that Iran has agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons—a long-standing US demand that Tehran has consistently rejected, particularly on full uranium enrichment cessation.
It remains unclear whether Israel will feature in any prospective US-Iran accord. The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran starting February 28. Meanwhile, US officials revealed intelligence indicating at least a dozen Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, US Central Command reported more than 9,000 strikes on Iranian positions since the war began, including over 140 naval vessels.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
