US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a deal with Iran was “very close” and fresh negotiations could take place later this week, adding he may visit Islamabad if an agreement is reached.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said there had been significant progress in talks aimed at ending six weeks of conflict and ensuring Tehran does not acquire nuclear weapons.
“They’ve agreed to give us back the nuclear dust,” Trump said, referring to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
“There’s a very good chance we’re going to make a deal.”
Emphasising the core issue, he said: “We had to make sure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon… They’ve totally agreed to that. They’ve agreed to almost everything, so maybe if they can get to the table, there’s a difference.”
Trump added that negotiations were advancing and a breakthrough could come soon. “Something’s going to happen [that is] very positive,” he said.
Asked if he might travel to Pakistan to sign an agreement, Trump added: I might go, yeah. If the deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go.“
He warned, however, that failure to reach a deal would lead to renewed hostilities. “If there’s no deal, fighting resumes,” he said.
The US president also said Iran had indicated willingness to give up its enriched uranium reserves, which Washington says could be used to build nuclear weapons.
Trump claimed that US military actions had significantly degraded Iran’s naval and air capabilities and said Tehran was now more open to terms it had previously resisted.
He added that the ceasefire with Iran could be extended if needed, but warned that war would resume if talks collapsed.
Highlighting Pakistan’s role, Trump said: “Pakistan has played a very strong role. The Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif] and the Field Marshal [Syed Asim Munir] have done a tremendous job.”
He also said global oil prices were declining and claimed credit for brokering multiple ceasefires worldwide, adding that “very soon something important is going to happen.”
Vice President JD Vance led a US delegation to Islamabad last weekend for talks with Iranian officials but came away empty-handed.
Commenting on the regional situation, Trump said a 10-day ceasefire had been agreed between Lebanon and Israel, with Hezbollah also part of the arrangement.
He said he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, without specifying dates.
