Trump reiterates his positive portrayal of Iran talks

LAS VEGAS/WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said talks with Tehran seemed “to be working out quite well,” reiterating ​his positive portrayal of the negotiations on the Iran war without elaborating ‌on the specifics of the discussions.

“I hear they are doing very well,” Trump said in an interview on the “FOX5 1-ON-1, opens new tab” show with FOX5 Las ​Vegas journalist Tom Durian. The interview was published on Wednesday ​evening.

Even as the Iran war has entered its sixth ⁠month and the two sides have so far failed to reach ​a permanent end to the conflict, Trump has repeatedly attempted to ​portray the talks positively.

Trump has said a deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy supplies that Iran blocked after the war ​began, is imminent.

“I am not looking to kill people and totally ​obliterate everything, and that’s where we were headed. And they wanted to negotiate ‌and ⁠we’re doing that, and it seems to be working out quite well,” Trump said in the interview.

Human rights experts have condemned Trump’s threats to target civilian infrastructure.

Iran has warned that if the US ​carried out the threats, ​Tehran would ⁠target regional critical infrastructure.

The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential ​for civilians.

Such attacks could amount to war crimes, international ​law experts ⁠in the US said in April, after Trump’s previous threats.

The war began on February 28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran. ⁠

Tehran responded ​with strikes on Israel and Gulf ​states with US bases.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have since killed thousands ​and displaced millions.