Speaking to reporters on Sunday, President Donald Trump voiced confidence that an agreement could soon be reached between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
“On the Iran situation, I think we’re doing very well. I think a deal is going to be made there. That’s going to happen. Pretty soon it’s going to happen,” Trump told the press.
He added, “We’ll have something without having to start dropping bombs all over the place.”
Trump’s remarks came after a third round of negotiations between US and Iranian officials, which took place yesterday in Oman. Both sides agreed to meet again on May 3.
A US official told Axios that the discussions “were positive and productive. There is still much to do, but further progress was made on getting to a deal.”
Additionally, a senior American source confirmed that the talks are scheduled to continue next week, this time in Europe.
Although Trump has consistently emphasized that he would rather reach a diplomatic solution with Iran, he has also made it clear that the option of military force remains on the table if necessary.
Just two weeks ago, President Trump said that should it come to military intervention to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Israel would take a leading role in the effort.
“With Iran, if it requires military, we’re going to have military. Israel will be the leader of that. But nobody leads us, we do what we want to do,” Trump said during a meeting in the Oval Office.
When asked if he had a specific timeline for reaching a deal with Iran, Trump responded, “I can’t really be specific, but when you start talks, you know if they’re going along well or not, and I would say the conclusion would be when I think they’re not going along well.”
Trump has previously warned the Iranian regime that refusing to negotiate would bring about devastating consequences.
“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing — and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before,” he cautioned.
In a separate interview on Friday with Time Magazine, Trump reiterated that it is possible to forge a nuclear agreement without resorting to strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
He added that although he remains prepared to authorize military action if required, he is also open to a direct meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an effort to avoid conflict.
{Matzav.com}