- Donald Trump has said his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was making progress in negotiations with Iran, but suggested that reaching a deal was not his preferred outcome.
- Speaking at a rally in San Antonio, he said: “That war ends – it’s going to be very soon. It’s got to be very soon”, but he added that “I think the deal isn’t really something that I want to do, but they’re willing to offer us anything to stop.”
- He also called Iran “a failed nation” with “a little spunk left, but not much” and praised Witkoff as “a great negotiator”.
- The US and Iran recently held indirect nuclear talks in New York, with Washington seeking a broader agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme.
- Washington rejected an Iranian proposal for a seven-day deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief prior to nuclear talks; the Trump administration insists that resolving Iran's nuclear programme must be an integral part of any immediate agreement.
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