President Donald Trump provided an update on ongoing negotiations with Iran while speaking at the Memphis Safe Task Force Roundtable on March 23. He indicated that discussions between the United States and Iran have been positive and suggested that the country may have agreed to forgo developing nuclear weapons.
Trump: So we are now having really good discussions. They started last night, the night before that, and I think they are very good. They want peace. They've agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon. But we will see. You have to get it done. But I would say there is a good… pic.twitter.com/3sKU81GTne
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 23, 2026
Trump said, “We are now having really good discussions. They started last night a little bit the night before that and I think they are very good. They want peace, they agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon. Etc. But we will see, you have to get it done but there’s a very good chance and it began when I said that I won’t be. .. We were planning tomorrow on shooting down some of their power plants. We’re not going to do that. Were going to hold that up, hopefully we won’t have to do that and we can make a deal that’s good for all of us.”
He framed the discussions as a direct result of the United States military’s actions in the region, referencing Operation Epic Fury, which was launched on February 28, 2026. The operation targeted key Iranian military and strategic sites, including ballistic missile launchers, naval vessels, and command centers, with the aim of dismantling the regime’s capacity to threaten the United States and its allies. Trump described the operation as having successfully neutralized the majority of Iran’s missile and drone capabilities.
The president expressed optimism that the military operation may soon conclude, contingent on reaching an agreement with Iran. He suggested that the progress of these discussions could allow the United States to hold off further strikes, such as attacks on Iranian power plants, potentially leading to a broader diplomatic resolution.
Trump emphasized the stakes of the negotiations, linking the progress to regional stability and the prevention of nuclear proliferation. He noted that under prior agreements, Iran could have developed nuclear weapons, but asserted that the current efforts, backed by military pressure, have created leverage for a potential peaceful outcome.
While discussing the possibility of a deal, Trump underscored the involvement of key U.S. allies, including Israel, and indicated that a successful agreement could provide a favorable resolution for all parties involved. The president concluded that, if successful, such a deal would achieve the objectives of Operation Epic Fury without further escalation.