WAR ON IRAN
3 min read
Iran deal 'close', but only on American terms: Trump
Iran, the United States and ​mediator Pakistan all said that progress had been made in talks on ending the war.
Iran deal 'close', but only on American terms: Trump
Trump says negotiators are getting closer to Iran deal, media interviews show / Reuters

President Donald Trump has said that negotiators for the United States and Iran were "getting a lot closer" to finalising an agreement to end the war, according to an interview with CBS News.

He said a final agreement would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and would ensure that Iran's enriched uranium would be "satisfactorily handled", according to CBS.

"I will only sign a deal where we get everything we want," Trump was quoted as saying.

Iran, the United States and ​mediator Pakistan all said that progress had been made in talks on ending almost three months of war.

Trump said he would discuss the latest Iran draft agreement with advisers on Saturday and might make a decision on whether to resume the war by Sunday, he told Axios in a separate interview.

"Either we reach a good deal, or I'll blow them to a thousand hells," Trump said, according to Axios.

Trump has vacillated between the two poles of diplomacy and military strike since a ceasefire was declared six weeks ago to allow the sides to agree on Iran's nuclear programme and on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil and gas supply route now controlled by Tehran.

But in the interview with the TV network, Trump also warned that if the US and Iran do not agree, "we're going to have a situation where no country will ever be hit as hard as they're about to be hit."

Meanwhile, Iran said Saturday that it was finalising a 14-point "framework agreement" for a deal with the
US but signalled that major gaps remain.

The US president struck a less upbeat tone in another Saturday morning interview with news website Axios, saying that it was a "solid 50/50" chance of a deal being struck.
Trump warned he would "blow them to kingdom come" if a deal wasn't reached.


Both outlets also reported that Trump was scheduled to speak with Gulf leaders by phone later today.


On a visit to India, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "There may be some news a little later today," but added,
"there may not be."

Axios said Trump is also expected to meet Saturday with Vice President JD Vance, as well as negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.


Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, had been in Iran this week, hoping to bring the two sides closer to an agreement.


Reports on Friday suggested that Trump was considering a fresh round of strikes on Iran, as the conflict between the two countries entered its 13th week.


Trump abruptly announced on Friday that he would be skipping his son's wedding this weekend due to "circumstances about the
government".

RelatedTRT World - Iran, Pakistan, US report progress in talks as Tehran drafts framework
SOURCE:AFP, Reuters