Democratic senator accuses Trump of lying about Iran talks as war enters fourth week

2026-03-24 - 09:10

As the US-Israel war on Iran enters its fourth week, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen accused President Donald Trump of lying about holding talks with Tehran. Speaking to CNN, Van Hollen said Trump is not telling the truth when he claims Iran is engaged in negotiations and is ready to accept all US demands to end the conflict. "We know he's lying," the senator stated. Disputed talks The disputed "talks" that Trump referred to concern backchannel discussions aimed at ending the war, including demands for Iran to halt uranium enrichment, remove enriched uranium stockpiles, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz for international oil traffic. Trump had posted on Truth Social on Monday, claiming the talks with Iran were going "very well" and "productively," announcing a five-day pause on strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. War crime warning Van Hollen also warned that any US attack on Iran's energy infrastructure, including plans targeting Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal, would likely constitute a war crime and violate international law. Kharg Island handles 90-95% of Iran's crude exports, and strikes on such civilian infrastructure could draw legal condemnation. Iranian denial Both Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei firmly rejected Trump's claims, stating that no direct or indirect talks have taken place. The denials underscore the deep distrust between the two sides as the conflict continues. Conflict context The US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing over 1,340 people according to Iranian authorities, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US assets, while the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, disrupting global oil supplies.