In a series of remarks aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, March 29, 2026, President Donald Trump signaled that a comprehensive deal to end the month-long war with Iran is within reach. Citing “very good and productive” negotiations held over the weekend, the President told reporters that the two sides are nearing a resolution that could materialize as early as this week.
“I do see a deal in Iran, yeah. Could be soon,” Trump said. “We’re doing extremely well in that negotiation… they’ve given us most of the points.”
The “Regime Change” Narrative
Perhaps most strikingly, President Trump asserted that “regime change” in Iran has effectively already occurred due to the decimation of the country’s senior leadership during the U.S.-Israeli air campaign. He described the current group of officials in Tehran as a “third regime” that is significantly more “reasonable” than its predecessors.
- Leadership Losses: Following the reported death of the previous Supreme Leader and the wounding of his successor, Trump claimed the U.S. is now dealing with “different people than anybody’s dealt with before.”
- “Mostly Dead”: In his characteristic style, the President noted that the first two ranks of the Iranian regime were “decimated” and “destroyed,” leaving a new, more pragmatic leadership tier at the helm.
Signs of De-escalation: The “Tribute” of 20 Ships
As a tangible sign of progress, the President highlighted Iran’s decision to allow 20 oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning.
- A Sign of Respect: Trump characterized the move as a “tribute” and a “sign of respect,” noting that the number of cleared vessels had doubled from an initial offer of ten.
- The 15-Point Plan: The President confirmed that Iran is “agreeing” to most of the 15-point peace proposal delivered via Pakistan, which reportedly includes a total nuclear rollback, missile curbs, and permanent maritime access.
The “Islamabad Track”: Pakistan Prepared to Host
The diplomatic momentum is centered on Islamabad, where Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar concluded a “quadrilateral moot” with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt.
- Facilitation: Dar confirmed that both Washington and Tehran have expressed “confidence” in Pakistan’s role as a mediator.
- Direct Talks: Pakistan has signaled it would be “honored” to host direct, face-to-face negotiations between U.S. and Iranian delegations in the coming days to finalize the “Islamabad Track” of de-escalation.
| Negotiation Status | Detail | Key Figure/Location |
| Current Tone | “Extremely Well” / Optimistic. | Pres. Donald Trump |
| Mediation Hub | Islamabad, Pakistan. | FM Ishaq Dar |
| Major Concession | 20 tankers cleared for Hormuz. | Iranian Leadership |
| U.S. Leverage | 50,000+ Troops in region. | CENTCOM / 82nd Airborne |
A Dual-Track Reality
Despite the optimism, the President maintained his “maximum pressure” posture, reminding reporters that the U.S. has “destroyed many, many targets” and that the Iranian Air Force and Navy are effectively “gone.” He cautioned that while he is “pretty sure” a deal will be made, “you never know with Iran, because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up.”
