President Trump told CBS News that negotiators for the United States and Iran are “getting a lot closer” to finalizing an agreement. He declined to disclose details but said the talks improve “every day” and that he would not discuss specifics before informing other parties: “I can’t tell you before I tell them, right?”
Sources familiar with the negotiations told CBS News that the latest U.S. proposal would include a framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the unfreezing of some Iranian assets held in foreign banks, and a commitment to continue negotiations. Trump said he believes any final deal would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and that Iran’s enriched uranium would be “satisfactorily handled.” He added, “I will only sign a deal where we get everything we want.”
Those sources said the president has not made a final decision and is weighing options, consulting with advisers and speaking with foreign leaders, including officials from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Three sources told CBS News that Mr. Trump was scheduled to hold a conference call with Gulf leaders and other partners on Saturday to discuss the negotiation posture; one regional official said some leaders were not clear which approach the president favors.
Trump warned that if talks fail, the U.S. would respond forcefully: “we’re going to have a situation where no country will ever be hit as hard as they’re about to be hit.” He has issued similarly stark warnings in recent weeks, including statements before a ceasefire in April saying “a whole civilization will die” without a deal and more recently asserting that “the Clock is Ticking.”
Marco Rubio, appearing ahead of a formal dinner at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, said Saturday there “may be news later today” about the status of U.S.-Iran negotiations. “There’s been some progress done, some progress made, even as I speak to you now, there’s some work being done,” Rubio said. “There is a chance that, whether it’s later today, tomorrow, in a couple days, we may have something to say, but this issue needs to be solved, as the president said, one way or another.”
Margaret Brennan contributed to this report. Reporters on the story include Nancy Cordes and Ed O’Keefe of CBS News.