Trump says US ‘getting a lot closer’ to Iran agreement, signals progress
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid mediation efforts to secure a permanent peace deal between the US and a barrage of confusing statements from both parties about the status of ongoing negotiations and talks, President Donald Trump, in a latest statement on Iran, said that the US was getting closer to an agreement with Iran.
Earlier on Friday, May 22, State Secretary Marco Rubio confirmed slight progress in talks and said that more work was required; however, on Saturday, May 23, Iran’s top negotiator reportedly accused the US of not being an honest party in negotiations to end the war.
Trump says Iran agreement is near
Donald Trump told CBS News that US and Iranian negotiators are “getting a lot closer” to reaching an agreement, signaling growing optimism around the ongoing talks.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the latest proposal includes steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, unfreeze certain Iranian assets held overseas, and continue negotiations between the two sides.
While Trump declined to discuss specific details of the proposal, he said the situation was improving, adding that “every day it gets better and better.”
"I can't tell you before I tell them, right?" Mr. Trump said in a phone interview.
Trump reiterated that he believes the final agreement will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, adding that he "wouldn't even be talking about it otherwise."
Trump added that the agreement would also result in Iran's enriched uranium being "satisfactorily handled."
"I will only sign a deal where we get everything we want," he said.
Trump says Iran is about to hit hard
Sources told the outlet that Donald Trump is still weighing different proposals and has not yet decided on a final course of action.
According to the sources, Trump has been consulting advisers and holding discussions with foreign leaders, including officials from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations.
As per sources, Trump is expected to hold a phone call Saturday afternoon with leaders from Gulf countries and other nations to discuss the ongoing Iran negotiations.
US officials familiar with the matter said some regional leaders remain uncertain about which direction Trump is leaning.
Trump warned that if Washington and Tehran fail to reach an agreement, “we're going to have a situation where no country will ever be hit as hard as they're about to be hit.”
