U.S. sent Iran a message through mediators as Trump signals he's open to a deal, Iranian official says - CBS News
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
The US conveyed a message to Iran through intermediaries as Trump signals openness to negotiating with Tehran.
AI Summary
The United States has conveyed a message to Iran through intermediaries while President Trump signals openness to negotiating with Tehran, according to an Iranian official. The contact reflects a potential shift in approach toward Iran after years of escalating tensions and Trump's previous "maximum pressure" campaign during his first term. Trump's willingness to engage stands in contrast to his administration's earlier hardline stance on Iran's nuclear program and regional activities. The development suggests the White House may be exploring diplomatic channels ahead of any formal talks. Direct communication between Washington and Tehran remains rare, making back-channel messaging a traditional method for both sides to test intentions without public commitment.
What's Being Done
The White House is exploring diplomatic channels through back-channel messaging to test intentions without public commitment.
Source Coverage Map
8 of 43 tracked sources covered this story
Following this story?
Get notified when new coverage appears
Other Sources Covering This Story
5 sourcesMultiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.

Trump news at a glance: president touts ‘strong talks’ with Iran that Iran says have not happened

Trump Says U.S. Is Negotiating With Iran, Which Publicly Denies His Claim - The New York Times
This article is part of a story we're tracking:
Should this be getting more attention?
You Might Have Missed
Related stories from different sources and perspectives
National SecurityTrump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait
<p>The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/strait-hormuz-coalition-allies-statement-uk" target="_blank">Strait of Hormuz</a>, four sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> President Trump can't end the war, at least on his terms, until he breaks <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/iran-war-mines-strait-of-hormuz" target="_blank">Iran's chokehold</a> on shipping through the strait. In the meantime, global <a href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/oil-companies" target="_blank">energy</a> prices are surging.</p><hr><ul><li>But an operation to take over Kharg Island, which sits 15 miles offshore and processes 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, could put U.S. troops more directly in the line of fire.</li><li>Thus, such an operation would only be launched after the U.S. military further degrades Iran's military capa...
Politics chat: Trump's mixed messages on the Iran war, the latest on DHS funding
We look at President Trump's mixed messages on the war with Iran, plus the latest on Department of Homeland Security funding, which Congress has frozen over his immigration enforcement policies.
PoliticsTrump says he's disappointed in NATO and that leaving is "something we should think about"
President Trump said Tuesday that he's "disappointed in NATO" as he pushes for the alliance to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. CBS News White House reporter Olivia Rinaldi has more.
PoliticsIran war creates growing cracks within Trump's MAGA movement
Polls show more than half of Americans do not support U.S. military action in Iran, despite the Trump administration's efforts. To discuss this more, Liz Landers spoke with Curt Mills, the executive director of The American Conservative magazine. He's been outspoken against U.S. involvement in Iran.
Politics‘Extremely ugly’: Maga media figures squabble among themselves over Trump’s Iran war
<p>Though the majority of the president’s base backs the war, a schism has developed among Trump-touting media stars</p><p>When the histories of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-israel-war-on-iran">Iran war</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump</a>’s “Make America great again” (Maga) movement are written, there may be a special place for the words of former US congresswoman <a href="https://x.com/mtgreenee/status/2033523572228952562">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>: “I wholeheartedly support Megyn Kelly telling the world that Mark Levin has a micropenis.”</p><p>Greene’s social media post summed up how the media stars of the Trump coalition <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/us/politics/iran-war-trump-conservative-divide-israel.html">have turned on each other</a> in a ferocious, bitter and – sometimes – vulgar brawl. Figures such as Kelly, Levin, Tucker Carlson, Laura Loomer, Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro have clashed over...
Global'Online diplomacy': How Trump narrates war in Iran on Truth Social
PRESS REVIEW – Friday, March 20: Donald Trump is turning to "online diplomacy" to defend his actions in Iran and lambast his critics on Truth Social. The Times of London looks at how Monica Witt, a US servicewoman-turned-spy for Iran, could play a crucial role in the war. Also: a Belgian court charges a former diplomat with involvement in the killing of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of independent DR Congo. Plus: a little possum is found among plush toys at an airport gift shop in Australia.

Iran threatens to close Strait of Hormuz and hit power plants after Trump's 48-hour deadline
Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely closed" immediately if the U.S. follows up on Trump's new threat to attack its power plants. Trump late Saturday set a 48-hour deadline to open the strait.
Did this story change how you see things?
Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.
The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.
See our sourcesMost Read This Week
Fentanyl found inside Barbies sold at Missouri discount store, police say

White House registers new ‘alien’-related .gov domains as DOD tackles Trump’s disclosure directive

Kash Patel admits under oath FBI is buying location data on Americans

US moves to soften capital rules: ‘Big banks can declare mission accomplished’

The West's historic snow drought could bring water shortages, wildfires





