Commodities March 24, 2026

Trump Says U.S. Is Engaging the Right Iranians as Talks Continue; Pakistan Offers to Host

President emphasizes ongoing negotiations and says Tehran is eager for a deal while declining to disclose details about envoys' travel plans

By Avery Klein
Trump Says U.S. Is Engaging the Right Iranians as Talks Continue; Pakistan Offers to Host

President Donald Trump told reporters on March 24 that U.S. officials are in contact with 'the right people' in Iran as part of efforts to negotiate an agreement to end hostilities. Speaking in the Oval Office, he said 'we're in negotiations right now' but declined to provide specifics, including whether envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner planned talks this week. Pakistan has said it is willing to host U.S.-Iran discussions. Trump characterized the Iranian desire for a deal as very strong.

Key Points

  • President Donald Trump said the United States is 'in negotiations right now' with Iran and described the Iranian side as very eager to reach a deal.
  • Trump declined to provide details on the talks, including whether U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner planned meetings this week.
  • Pakistan has publicly offered to host talks between the United States and Iran; the article does not state whether that offer has been accepted or meetings scheduled.
  • Sectors to monitor - The article does not present direct information on market impacts; observers in energy, defense, and financial markets may monitor developments given the geopolitical subject matter.

WASHINGTON, March 24 - President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that the United States is engaged with "the right people" in Iran in an effort to secure an agreement to end hostilities. He said "we're in negotiations right now" but did not offer further details on the discussions.

When asked about whether U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner planned to hold meetings this week, the president declined to confirm any travel or meeting plans. He repeated his position that the administration is conducting negotiations but withheld specifics about timing, participants, or the substance of talks.

Trump also stated that Iran wants to reach a deal "so badly," using the words: "we're actually talking to the right people and they want to make a deal so badly, you have no idea how badly they want to make a deal." He framed that assertion as an expression of the Iranians' eagerness to conclude negotiations, without providing additional evidence or particulars.

Separately, Pakistan has expressed a willingness to host talks between the United States and Iran. The president did not elaborate on whether that offer has been accepted or whether any meetings are scheduled to take place in Pakistan.

The public comments left several questions unanswered. The administration confirmed engagement but did not detail the negotiating framework, the precise interlocutors involved beyond the phrase "the right people," or whether planned envoy movements would occur this week. The reference to named envoys was made in the context of the president declining to disclose their schedules.

Given the limited information released, observers are left with the administration's broad characterization of progress in negotiations and Pakistan's stated willingness to host potential talks. No further facts about the content, timeline, or any formal agreement were provided during the Oval Office remarks.


Key takeaways

  • President Trump said the U.S. is in active negotiations with Iran and described the Iranian side as eager to reach a deal.
  • The president refused to disclose details, including whether envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be holding talks this week.
  • Pakistan has stated it is willing to host U.S.-Iran discussions, though no confirmation of scheduled meetings was provided.

Context and limitations

The statements reflect the administration's public posture but contain limited verifiable detail. The remarks confirm engagement without specifying participants, location, agenda, or timeline for any agreement.

Risks

  • Opacity around the negotiations - the administration confirmed talks but provided no substantive details on participants, agenda, or timeline, leaving uncertainty about progress.
  • Uncertainty over envoy meetings - the president would not confirm whether envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner planned talks this week, creating ambiguity about near-term diplomatic steps.
  • Reliance on third-party hosting - Pakistan's willingness to host talks is noted, but the article does not indicate confirmation of any meetings there, leaving the location and logistics unresolved.

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