President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran is pressing for a deal and expressed hope that an agreement could be reached in the near future, while offering only limited details about the ongoing discussions.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump indicated that very few people are privy to the specifics of the negotiations. Asked about where things stand, he said, “Nobody knows what the talks are except myself and a couple of other people.”
He reiterated his view that Tehran is highly motivated to reach an understanding, while underscoring his firm stance on its nuclear ambitions. “I mean, Iran is dying to make a deal. I can only tell you that. I don’t want to get into it, but they got – they cannot be nuclear other than that. But they are,” he added.
Trump:
Iran is dying to make a deal. I can only tell you that. pic.twitter.com/HGFYHxqt0C
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 30, 2026
Trump emphasized the broader global implications of the issue, stressing that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a top priority. “The bottom line is for this world, for our country, but certainly for Israel, the Middle East and Europe, much closer, you cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
He also pointed to the toll of violence and the current state of Iran’s economy, arguing that both factors are shaping the situation. “They killed 42,000 innocent, non-weapon-carrying people… I’m trying to save that country… This is a rough group, but we have decimated them, and their economy is a disaster. So we’ll see how long they hold out,” he continued.
The president’s remarks come after a shift in how the United States is conducting talks with Iran. Over the weekend, Trump canceled a planned trip by U.S. envoys to Islamabad for in-person discussions, opting instead for remote communication.
On Wednesday, he explained that negotiations are now taking place by phone rather than through face-to-face meetings. “We have talks, we’re having talks with them now, and we’re not flying anymore with 18-hour flights every time we want to see a piece of paper,” the president said.
He added that this approach allows for faster responses, even if he generally prefers direct meetings. “We’re doing it telephonically, and it’s very nice. I make a call, or I have my people make a call, and you know the answer in 15 – I always like face to face, you know, I consider it better,” he continued. “But when you have to fly 18 hours every time you want to have a meeting, and you know what the meeting is all about, and you know they’re going to give you a piece of paper that you don’t like before you even leave, it’s ridiculous, and they’ve come a long way.”
Trump’s comments followed his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal. In remarks to Axios, he said he plans to keep a naval blockade in place until Iran agrees to terms that address U.S. concerns about its nuclear program.
The proposal put forward by Tehran reportedly calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz while delaying any negotiations over its nuclear activities.
A U.S. official told Reuters earlier this week that the administration views the proposal as insufficient, particularly because it does not adequately address the nuclear issue.
Later Thursday, Trump was scheduled to receive a briefing from CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper on updated contingency plans involving potential military action against Iran.
{Matzav.com}