Trump says progress in Iran talks, repeats threat over Hormuz Strait

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States was in talks with a "more reasonable regime" to end the war in Iran, but he repeated his warning to Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk US attacks on its oil wells and power plants.

"Great progress has been made, but if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached – which it probably will be – and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately 'Open for Business,' we will conclude our lovely 'stay' in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their electric generating plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island," Trump wrote in a social media post.

Trump also threatened attacks on desalination plants that supply clean water in Iran.

The US president said last week he would pause attacks on Iran's energy plants for 10 days, until April 6.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that no coastal state would allow "enemy vessels" to pass normally through its waters under wartime conditions, as such ships could be used to carry out hostile actions. It noted that some vessels not linked to Iran's adversaries had transited the Strait of Hormuz after coordinating with Iranian authorities in the past few days.

While Trump has said the US and Iran are making progress in talks, he has also been sending more US troops to the region. In response, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of signaling possible negotiations while planning a ground invasion, prompting further defiance from Tehran.

The Washington Post reported on Sunday that the Pentagon had been preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, an option Trump has alternately played down and left open in remarks throughout March.

Iranian forces are "waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can rain fire upon them," Ghalibaf said on Sunday.

Iranian leaders have denied being in direct talks with the US. The Foreign Ministry said that messages had only been transmitted through a third party.

Pakistan, which is acting as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington, said it was preparing to host "meaningful talks" in the coming days aimed at ending the month-long Iran war. It was not clear whether the US and Iran had agreed to attend.

(With input from agencies)