US President, Donald Trump has said negotiations with Iran are progressing and indicated that a deal could be reached within days.
Speaking to reporters on Monday night, June 8, Trump said discussions were moving in a positive direction and expressed confidence that an agreement was close.
“I think it’s going well,” Trump said. “We have a good chance of doing it. We should be able to do it in one hour if you want to know the truth. I don’t think there are any sticking points. I think we’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal.”
Trump added that while military action remained an option, he preferred a diplomatic resolution.
“If we go and bomb, which we can do very easily, if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing, they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But if we do the bombing, a lot of people are going to be killed. Who wants to do that? We’ll get a signed document that’s actually stronger than doing the bombing,” he said.
The president also addressed the recent exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran, saying he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I had a very good conversation with him. He was hit, and he hit back. Now they’ve called it quits, so they’re going to leave each other alone for another week or something,” Trump said.
He maintained that negotiations remained on track despite the tensions.
“We’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal that will not allow in any way, shape, or form nuclear weapons,” he said.
Trump revealed that he had urged Netanyahu to limit military actions while diplomatic efforts continue.
“I said, ‘Do what’s right, but I want you to stop as quickly as you can,’ because they have to stop. It’s had to do with Lebanon, and it has to stop. We want to get it finished.”
The president also appeared to confirm reports that a U.S. Army helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz. However, he said there were no injuries.
“The pilots are fine. Nobody injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow,” Trump stated.
In a separate interview, Trump said he had advised Netanyahu to use his judgment while ensuring that ongoing peace efforts were not undermined.
“I don’t want to do anything that’s going to hurt the deal, but I said, ‘You have to use your own judgment.’”
Trump emphasized America’s position in the negotiations, saying: “It’s actually pretty simple. It’s the one with the power wins. We have all the power.” He also warned against actions that could derail the peace process.
“If people are stupid, we’ll end up in something where we have to wipe out an entire infrastructure of a nation, and I don’t think that’s a good thing, because somebody’s going to have to rebuild it,” he said.
According to Trump, a large-scale military campaign would likely force the United States and its allies to become involved in rebuilding efforts afterward.
The latest comments come as Washington continues negotiations with Tehran following an extended ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year. While tensions remain high, both sides appear to be pursuing a diplomatic solution aimed at preventing further escalation in the Middle East.
