Trump Says Iran Nuclear Deal ‘Close,’ Seeks Long-Term Peace While Warning of Military Option
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States is close to reaching a new agreement with Iran over its nuclear program, expressing optimism about a diplomatic solution that could avert a military confrontation.
“We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” Trump said during remarks at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the second stop on his three-nation tour of the Middle East. “I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this.”
“So we’ll see what happens. But we’re in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace, and if we do that, it’ll be fantastic,” he added.
The comments come as U.S. and Iranian negotiators concluded a fourth round of indirect talks last weekend in Oman. This marked the most significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations since Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018.
Trump pointed to recent remarks from Iranian officials as a reason for his optimism. “You probably read today the story about Iran. It’s sort of agreed to the terms,” he said, though he did not elaborate on which statements he was referencing.
An adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Tehran may accept far-reaching — though not total — limits on its nuclear program, if the U.S. agrees to lift sanctions immediately.
Trump credited Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for helping to steer negotiations away from conflict. “Iran is very lucky to have the emir because he’s actually fighting for them. He doesn’t want us to do a vicious blow to Iran,” Trump said.
At a state dinner Wednesday evening, Trump again emphasized his desire to avoid violence. “The non-friendly is a violent course and I don’t want that,” he said. “It’s their decision,” he added, urging Qatar to continue mediating.
“It’s a perilous situation, and we want to do the right thing,” Trump said. “We want to do something that’s going to save maybe millions of lives. Because things like that get started and they get out of control.”
However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian offered a defiant response, warning Trump not to expect capitulation. “He thinks he can come here, chant slogans, and scare us. For us, martyrdom is far sweeter than dying in bed. You came to frighten us? We will not bow to any bully,” Pezeshkian said in a televised speech.
The nuclear standoff remains unresolved, with Iran continuing to enrich uranium to 60% purity — a level with no peaceful application — while blocking access to international inspectors. U.S. officials remain divided on whether to accept any deal that permits Iran to retain a limited enrichment program.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has imposed new sanctions targeting Iran’s ballistic missile program, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warning, “The United States cannot allow Iran to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles.”
The sanctions hit six individuals and 12 firms, many tied to Chinese entities allegedly supplying critical materials for missile development. “Iran remains heavily reliant on China to conduct its malign activities in the Middle East,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior Iranian adviser, dismissed the U.S. outreach. “Trump talks about the olive branch, which we have not seen. It’s all barbed wire,” he told NBC News. However, Shamkhani confirmed that if sanctions were lifted “immediately,” Iran could agree to halt nuclear weapons development, relinquish enriched uranium stockpiles, and allow international inspections.
Contradicting Shamkhani’s claim, Axios reported earlier this week that the U.S. delivered a written proposal during the fourth round of talks — though Iranian officials have denied receiving any new formal offer.
Despite the friction, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff called the Oman discussions “encouraging,” while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described them as “difficult but useful,” signaling potential progress toward a partial reduction in enrichment activity.
Trump’s regional tour has yielded major diplomatic and economic developments, including a $1.2 trillion investment commitment from Qatar, $142 billion in U.S.-Saudi arms deals, and preliminary agreements with the UAE for cutting-edge AI technology exports.
But Trump emphasized that resolving the nuclear crisis remains the central goal. “We’re getting close,” he said Thursday. “But we’re not there yet — and it has to be the right deal.”
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