WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was “very possible”, but threatened to resume his bombardment of the country if negotiations fell apart.
Despite the US leader’s optimism, Iran has yet to respond to a new US proposal, with its chief negotiator warning that Washington was seeking to force the Islamic republic’s “surrender”.
Positive signs that the foes could return to the table after weeks of deadlock grew after Trump halted a short-lived military operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing hopes for a deal.
Trump said on social media Wednesday that if “Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to”, the war would be over, but if not, the bombing would resume “at a much higher level and intensity”.
“We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told local media that the “US plan and proposal are still under review”, and that Tehran would convey its position to mediator Pakistan “after finalising its views”.