Mixed signals in Iran conflict: Trump claims progress as Israel strikes Tehran and U.S. prepares troop surge

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran entered a new phase of confusion on Wednesday as Israeli forces struck the Iranian capital Tehran while President Donald Trump insisted the United States was making headway in secret negotiations to end the four-week-old conflict.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that Washington was “talking to the right people” in Iran and that “we’re in negotiations right now.” He claimed Tehran “wants to reach a deal very badly” and had delivered a major “present” – an energy-related concession tied to oil and gas, possibly involving the Strait of Hormuz – that he described as “very big… worth a tremendous amount of money.” The president said the gift “arrived today” and was “a very nice thing they did.”

Reuters reported that the U.S. has sent Tehran a 15-point plan aimed at a “complete and total resolution of hostilities.” Trump named Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as involved in the effort.

Iran immediately rejected the narrative. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf dismissed Trump’s comments as “fake news” designed to manipulate oil markets and “escape the quagmire” created by the war. Tehran has repeatedly stated that no negotiations have taken place.

The mixed messages came hours after Israeli warplanes hit infrastructure targets across Tehran. The Israeli military confirmed the strikes; Iranian state media said residential areas were also affected and rescuers were searching rubble. The assault followed Iranian missile barrages on Israel the previous day.

Despite Trump’s optimism, the Pentagon is pressing ahead with a major military reinforcement. Two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters the U.S. will deploy thousands of soldiers – between 3,000 and 4,000 – from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in the coming days. The move adds to the roughly 50,000 U.S. troops already in the region and follows the recent dispatch of Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer.

The deployments signal that Washington is preparing for a longer fight even as it floats diplomatic options. Reuters first reported on 18 March that the administration was weighing ground-force options, including possible operations inside Iran to secure the Strait of Hormuz or Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil-export hub.

The conflict erupted on 28 February after U.S. and Israeli officials said diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme and regional proxies had failed. Since then, both sides have traded hundreds of strikes, with Iran firing long-range missiles at Israeli cities and U.S.-Israeli forces hitting Iranian military and energy sites. The fighting has disrupted global oil flows and sent energy prices soaring.

Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, have told Reuters they consider a successful U.S.-Iran deal unlikely, given Tehran’s hardened stance. Iran has demanded an immediate end to strikes, compensation for damage, and guarantees against future attacks – conditions Washington is unlikely to accept.

Analysts say Trump’s public cheerleading for talks may be aimed at calming markets and buying time, while the continued military buildup keeps pressure on Tehran. Yet the disconnect between Washington’s words and its actions has left allies and adversaries alike uncertain about U.S. intentions.

In the meantime, Israel has conducted repeated airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Tyre, and other areas, while systematically destroying bridges over the Litani River to disrupt alleged supply routes for the group. Evacuation orders have been issued for dozens of villages and entire districts, contributing to the displacement of more than one million people – nearly one in five Lebanese – and effectively emptying large parts of southern Lebanon of its civilian population.

For now, the war grinds on. Israel shows no sign of halting its campaign, Iran continues missile launches, and the United States is sending more troops even as its president talks of peace. Whether the 15-point plan and the mysterious “present” can bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality remains to be seen in the coming days.

With Reuters, edited by EUalive..

A Palestinian man climbs the remains of a ballistic missile that landed in the West Bank village of Haris, near Salfit, 24 March 2026. The Israeli military reported that it detected multiple waves of missiles launched from Iran towards Israel throughout the morning. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH