US President Donald Trump said there is a "very good chance" of reaching a deal with Iran
By Sammy,
US President Donald Trump said there is a "very good chance" of reaching a deal with Iran, stating that recent contacts produced "major points of agreement" and could soon bring an end to the war. He described the discussions as "very intense," saying Iran "wants to make a deal badly" and that negotiations, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, continued into Sunday night and may resume. "If it goes well, we're going to end up settling this. Otherwise, we just keep bombing our little hearts out," he said.
Trump also said he postponed planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure after approving an attack on a major power plant, claiming Iran then reached out seeking negotiations. He framed the five-day delay of his ultimatum as a final window for diplomacy, while emphasizing that military pressure created the opportunity. He added that any agreement would include strict limits on Iran's nuclear program, including "no enrichment" and the removal of highly enriched uranium, saying, "We're going down and we'll take it ourselves."
Despite Trump's claims, Iranian officials publicly denied that any negotiations are taking place. Iran's foreign ministry said messages had been passed through intermediaries but insisted there had been no direct or indirect talks in recent weeks. Iranian sources said outreach attempts were rejected and that Iran would continue its military efforts until what it describes as deterrence is achieved. State-linked media also said the delay in US strikes followed Iranian warnings of retaliation against regional energy infrastructure, along with economic concerns.
Regional and international mediation efforts have intensified alongside these developments. Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey have been working to delay escalation and explore both reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war. Oman's foreign minister said his country is "working intensively" to ensure safe passage through the waterway and warned that continued fighting is already causing significant economic damage. Russia also called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities," saying a political resolution should take into account the interests of all sides, particularly Iran.
Israeli officials have been kept informed of US contacts with Iran, and one source indicated Israel would likely align with Washington in pausing strikes on energy infrastructure if talks continue. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to Trump's announcement, though in a separate conversation he said Israel is working to bring both itself and Iran to "places they have never been," adding, "They are down, we are up," while cautioning against any unfavorable agreement.
Additional developments reflected the broader complexity of the situation. Israeli officials said mediators are attempting to arrange a possible meeting in Pakistan between US and Iranian representatives. At the same time, conflicting accounts have emerged, with Iranian officials denying talks while US officials describe ongoing negotiations. Trump said Iran has agreed to multiple conditions and that a deal could be reached within days, while also linking the diplomacy to efforts to stabilize global oil markets and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Topics: Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Israeli Politics
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.