Washington, June 1:
US President Donald Trump has said that Washington is close to reaching a “very good deal” with Iran but warned that if negotiations fail to meet US expectations, the matter could be resolved through other means.
Speaking in an interview with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump that aired on Fox News on Saturday night, Trump expressed confidence in the ongoing talks while stressing that the US would not rush the process.
“We’re close to a very good deal,” Trump said, adding that successful negotiations require patience.
He noted that the US is gradually obtaining what it wants from the discussions and warned that if that does not happen, Washington would “end it a different way.”
Trump described the Iranians as skilled negotiators but argued that the US currently holds a strong position because Iran has been “militarily defeated.”
He claimed America possesses all the leverage and reiterated that a deal remains within reach.
However, he also suggested that failure to reach an agreement could lead to a more forceful approach, jokingly referring to the Pentagon as the “Department of War.”
Addressing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump said Iranian officials had assured the US they were not developing a nuclear weapon.
He argued that such assurances were insufficient and questioned what would happen if Iran acquired a nuclear weapon through other means.
According to Trump, negotiations have since expanded to include language preventing Iran from developing or purchasing military nuclear capabilities.
The US President further claimed that Iran’s naval and air forces had been severely weakened, though he said the US had refrained from completely dismantling Iran’s military because some leaders were considered more moderate.
He added that Washington had focused its actions on more hardline elements and key leadership figures.
Meanwhile, Trump convened a meeting with senior cabinet members and military officials in the White House Situation Room on Friday. The discussions ended without a clear decision on the next steps regarding Iran.
According to a report by Axios, Trump has requested several changes to a draft agreement negotiated by US envoys and Iranian representatives.
The proposed amendments reportedly focus on issues Trump considers critical, particularly the handling of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and the timeline for transferring or managing the material.
The report also said Trump wants revisions to language concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway through which about one-fifth of global energy supplies typically pass.
US officials told Axios that the requested changes have triggered another round of negotiations and that Iran is expected to respond within a few days.