US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium, claiming the two sides are close to reaching a deal that could end six weeks of conflict.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump framed the development as a major breakthrough in ongoing negotiations. “They’ve agreed to give us back the nuclear dust,” he said, using his term for enriched uranium that Washington believes could be used to build nuclear weapons. “There’s a very good chance we’re going to make a deal.”
Trump said the next round of talks between the United States and Iran could take place as soon as this weekend, indicating momentum in negotiations.
At the same time, he cast doubt on the need to extend the current ceasefire. “I’m not sure it needs to be extended,” he said, adding that Tehran is now more flexible than before.
“We have a very good relationship with Iran right now, as hard as it is to believe,” Trump said. “And I think it’s a combination of about four weeks of bombing, and a very powerful blockade.”
Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a sticking point at last weekend’s talks. The US proposed a 20-year suspension of all nuclear activity by Iran – an apparent concession from longstanding demands for a permanent ban. Tehran suggested a halt of three to five years, Reuters reported.
Washington has pressed for any highly enriched uranium to be removed from Iran. Tehran has demanded that international sanctions against it be lifted.
Two Iranian sources said there were signs of a compromise emerging on the highly enriched uranium stockpile, with Tehran considering shipping part, but not all, of it out of the country, something it had previously ruled out.
CEASEFIRE HANGS IN BALANCE
Despite the optimism, Trump warned that fighting could quickly resume if negotiations collapse. “If there’s no deal, fighting resumes,” he said, underscoring the fragile nature of the ceasefire, which is set to expire next week.
Officials have indicated that Iran is now willing to do things today that they weren’t willing to do two months ago, pointing to concessions that may have been driven by mounting pressure.
DEAL COULD BE SIGNED IN ISLAMABAD
In another notable remark, Trump said he may personally attend if a deal is finalised in Islamabad, hinting at the diplomatic importance of the negotiations.
“If the deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go,” said Trump, who heaped praise on Pakistani Prime Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistani Army Gen. Asim Munir for their role as mediators in the US-Iran talks. “The field marshal has been great. The prime minister has been really great in Pakistan, so I might go. They want me.”
Trump’s remarks came a day after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the talks would “very likely” take place at the same location as before.
TRUMP HITS OUT AT POPE LEO OVER IRAN STANCE
Trump also linked the Iran issue to broader global concerns, saying it was “very important” for
“The Pope has to understand – it’s very simple – Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. The world would be in great danger,” he said. The remarks come amid an ongoing public rift between the two leaders over the Iran conflict, with the Pope repeatedly calling for restraint and peace while Trump has defended a tougher stance.
Pope Leo, originally from Chicago, decried the madness of war in a peace appeal on Saturday. Leo told Reuters on Monday he would keep criticizing the war, regardless of Trump’s comments.
“The Pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree. I think that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
