Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program and that a deal with the Islamic regime could be finalized in the coming days to end the war.
The President revealed the deal with Iran is nearing completion and that talks will ‘probably’ be held this weekend, according to Bloomberg.
‘Most of the main points are finalized. It’ll go pretty quickly,’ Trump said.
Trump noted that he hasn’t decided who would lead a US delegation for talks with Iranian officials to sign an agreement. He later added that he ‘may’ travel to Pakistan for the last round of negotiations.
Suspending Iran’s nuclear program and seizing its remaining enriched uranium stockpile is a central objective of the administration as it seeks to bring the war to an end.
‘The Iranians want to meet. They want to make a deal. I think a meeting will probably take place over the weekend. I think we will get a deal in the next day or two,’ Trump told Axios.
Tehran has yet to confirm any of Trump’s claims about the alleged concessions, including suspending its nuclear program.
The regime did agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil chokepoint now under US blockade, and allow ships to pass through safely.
Iran had previously insisted the strait would only fully reopen if Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Tehran-backed Hezbollah is active. On Thursday, Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon following a phone call with Benjamin Netanyahu.
After peace talks with the Islamic regime collapsed last weekend in Pakistan, the President launched a naval blockade of the Strait. Iran had halted nearly all commercial transport through the passageway since the start of the war by deploying explosive suicide boats, drones, and mines.
Negotiations between the US and Iran have picked up in recent days, with Washington weighing a proposal to release roughly $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Tehran surrendering its stockpile of enriched uranium, according to Axios.
Trump denied that the US would pay Iran for its uranium stockpile, stating, ‘No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form.’
The President also stated the current peace deal will be ‘in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezbollah situation in an appropriate manner.’
‘Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are prohibited from doing so by the USA. Enough is enough!!!
Trump previously said Thursday that US and Iranian negotiators would likely meet this weekend for a second round of talks before a two-week ceasefire approaches its expiration on Tuesday.
A source familiar with the mediation efforts said the talks will take place in Islamabad on Sunday.
