Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Thursday, March 26, 2026

Trump insists Iran is negotiating with US, wants deal ‘so badly’

By Jacob Magid 26 March 2026, 2:04 am
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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

US President Donald Trump speaks during the swearing in for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office of the White House, March 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
US President Donald Trump speaks during the swearing in for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office of the White House, March 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

US President Donald Trump insists that Iran has been negotiating with his administration in recent days, despite officials familiar with the matter clarifying that the engagement has been limited to a passing along of messages through mediators.

“They want to make a deal so badly, but they’re afraid to say it, because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people. They’re also afraid they’ll be killed by us,” Trump says in remarks at a Republican fundraising event.

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