"Peace Talks" Game of Words: What Are the US, Iran, and Israel Planning?

Recently, the United States has repeatedly signaled that "diplomatic contacts between the US and Iran have taken place" and that "both sides are negotiating over a proposed peace plan." However, Iran has consistently denied these claims and has strongly countered both verbally and through actions. The so-called "peace talks" by the US have turned into a "Rashomon" of conflicting narratives, while a series of military actions by the US, Israel, and Iran continue unabated.

US and Iran Each Say Different Things
On March 23, just before the expiration of a "48-hour final ultimatum" sent to Iran two days earlier, President Trump suddenly announced that the US would "delay strikes on Iranian power plants by 5 days," claiming that the US and Iran had engaged in "robust" dialogue, that the talks were "perfect," and that an agreement outline had been reached.
Subsequently, multiple US and Israeli media reported that the US was in dialogue with Iran’s Islamic Parliament Speaker, Ali KaliBaf, and that several mediators were trying to coordinate meetings between KaliBaf, US Special Envoy for Iran Brian Hook, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Vice President Pence in Islamabad, Pakistan, later this week.
However, Iran immediately denied these reports. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said on March 23 that Iran had not held any negotiations with the US. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed Trump’s remarks as "psychological warfare," calling them "old news" and saying they have no impact on Tehran’s resistance. KaliBaf also posted on social media denying any negotiations with the US.
Nevertheless, Iran’s denial does not seem to have shaken Trump’s confidence in his previous statements. On March 24, Trump told the media at the White House that the US and Iran are "talking," and he insisted that "it’s the other side that wants to talk," adding that "we are dealing with the right people." Trump claimed that Iran had "agreed to permanently abandon nuclear weapons," including uranium enrichment activities, and that Iran "sent a big gift" to the US regarding the Strait of Hormuz issue.
Iran responded sharply to Trump’s claims. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on March 25, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Movahedi, stated in an interview that there have been no direct or indirect negotiations between the US and Iran so far. On the same day, the spokesperson for Iran’s Hatam Anbia Central Command warned the US, saying, "Don’t call your failures an agreement."

Continuous Actions by All Sides
While the US and Iran exchange fierce rhetoric, diplomatic and military actions related to this conflict are also unfolding simultaneously.
Reports indicate that the US is discussing high-level peace talks with multiple mediators, possibly as early as this week, but is still awaiting responses from Tehran. The US has reportedly proposed a 15-point ceasefire plan, with some key concessions from Iran.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey are acting as intermediaries, with Pakistan expressing willingness to host negotiations. The US peace plan mainly demands that Iran: dismantle its current nuclear capabilities, pledge not to develop nuclear weapons, cease uranium enrichment domestically, transfer approximately 60% of its high-enriched uranium stockpile, dismantle nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, and allow comprehensive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Additionally, the US demands that Iran cease supporting regional allies with weapons, funding, and commands, restrict ballistic missile development in terms of size and range (for defensive purposes only), and keep the Strait of Hormuz open. In return, Iran might receive a full lifting of international sanctions, US support for civilian nuclear projects, and the cancellation of the "snapback" mechanism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 23 that Trump had discussed with him the possibility of leveraging "significant achievements" by the US and Israel to "reach an agreement" that would "achieve our war objectives," which "will genuinely safeguard core interests of the US and Israel." However, Netanyahu also stated that Israel would "continue airstrikes against Iran and Lebanon."
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on March 24 said diplomatic efforts are ongoing, but US military actions against Iran are still "accelerating." According to Axios, US and Israeli officials indicated that Trump is preparing for both diplomatic negotiations and military escalation with Iran. Even as negotiations are underway, the US and Israel plan to conduct additional military strikes against Iran over the next two to three weeks.
The New York Times reported on March 23 that the Pentagon is considering deploying a combat brigade of about 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to support military operations against Iran, possibly to seize Iran’s oil export hub, Kharg Island. The Wall Street Journal also reported that the US 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit will arrive in the Middle East by March 27, coinciding with the final deadline set by Trump for "opening" the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran, according to reports from IRIB and other media on March 25, continues to launch "Real Commitment-4" operations, targeting Israeli military positions in northern Israel and Gaza, as well as US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and other countries, with intense strikes.

What Are Their Considerations?
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency on March 25, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said in an interview that Iran-US diplomacy is "very poor," and "no one trusts US diplomacy." Khatibzadeh added that Iran has been attacked twice during negotiations over the past nine months. "This is a betrayal of diplomacy, and it has happened more than once, twice," he said. Some Iranian officials believe that Trump’s decision to send more troops and military movements deepens their suspicions, and that the so-called negotiations are just a smokescreen.
Analysts suggest that the 15-point ceasefire plan reportedly proposed by the US essentially demands Iran’s surrender. The US conditions are also far from Iran’s previous demands, such as US withdrawal from the Gulf region and Israel and paying war reparations. Given the ongoing stalemate and the lack of significant unrest within Iran, it is unlikely that Iran will accept such so-called peace terms. Iran views the frequent signals of peace talks from the US as an attempt to create chaos domestically. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency on March 23, citing sources, the fabricated reports of negotiations with Larijani are aimed at discrediting him, causing division within Iran, inciting public sentiment, and creating conditions for his assassination.
Not only Iran is skeptical of the "peace talks." Israeli media reported on March 24 that the US intends to cease fire for a month to discuss this plan with Iran, but Israel fears that the US is rapidly seeking a framework agreement with Iran and making "significant concessions." Some commentators believe that, for the US, especially under Trump, despite huge investments and American soldiers’ casualties, they have yet to achieve Iran’s surrender on the battlefield.
The recent series of "peace talk" claims by the US may serve to calm domestic and international dissatisfaction, especially regarding the surge in energy prices caused by the war, which could directly impact the US midterm elections; alternatively, it may be a strategic move to prepare for further escalation, shifting the blame for the lack of peace onto Iran.
From this perspective, behind the recent loud claims of "peace talks," the future of this war remains highly uncertain.