Trump Says Very Good Iran Talks Could End War Quickly
Donald Trump said very good talks with Iran on Wednesday made it very possible that the war could end quickly. Iran, though, said it was still reviewing Washington’s peace proposal and had not yet given its response.
Trump said, "We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal," while also saying Iran wants to make a deal badly. He added that there was "a very good chance of ending the conflict" and warned that the United States would go back to bombing the hell out of them if talks collapse.
Trump Wednesday comments
The president later told party supporters on Wednesday, "It’ll be over quickly." In an interview with PBS the same day, he said, "I think it’s got a very good chance of ending, and if it doesn’t end, we have to go back to bombing the hell out of them." He also said Iran cannot have nuclear weapons if the sides get there.
Trump said he was optimistic about reaching an agreement before his scheduled trip to China next week. The remarks came as reported that the two sides were close to agreeing on a one-page memorandum to formally end the conflict, while Axios reported they were getting close to a 14-point document.
Baghaei Tehran response
Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had yet to provide its response to the U.S. proposal, and that "the investigation into the exchanged texts is ongoing." Ebrahim Rezaei called the U.S. text "more of an American wish list than a reality," and said, "The Americans will not gain anything in a war they are losing that they have not gained in face-to-face negotiations."
The reported terms would have Iran agree not to develop a nuclear weapon and halt enrichment of uranium for at least 12 years. Under the reported plan, the United States would lift sanctions and release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.
Strait of Hormuz terms
The reported memorandum also said both sides would reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days of signing. The two sides remain at odds over Iran’s nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz, two issues that will decide whether the proposed deal holds or the talks break down again.
Before the war began on February 28, one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz. That leaves the corridor at the center of any agreement that tries to trade military pressure for a formal end to the conflict.
