President Donald Trump said he believes the United States and Iran could reach an agreement within the next week to extend the current ceasefire and reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking by telephone with ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl, Trump expressed confidence that negotiations remain on track despite a brief setback earlier in the day.
“Looking good, looking good,” Trump said.
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The president acknowledged there had been a “glitch” in the talks but claimed he quickly helped resolve the issue.
“There was a little glitch today, but I turned that one around very quickly, as you probably noticed earlier,” Trump said.
According to Trump, the problem emerged after Iran became upset over Israeli military actions involving Lebanon.
“So, I spoke with Hezbollah, and I said no shooting, and I talked to Bibi [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu], and said, no shooting, and they both stopped shooting each other,” Trump said.
Trump suggested that a negotiated settlement with Iran could prove more significant than a battlefield victory.
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“A peace agreement with Iran could be even better than a military victory,” he said.
The president cautioned that reaching a final deal remains difficult because of decades of hostility between Washington and Tehran.
“It’s not a simple thing,” Trump said. “You’re talking about a real large country — them — very large country making a deal. Tremendous hostility, really.”
He continued, “So it’s not an easy thing for them. It’s actually not easy from our standpoint either. But we’re getting what we need to get.”
Asked when a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be finalized, Trump pointed to a relatively short timeline.
“I think you’re talking about over the next week,” he said.
Trump added that negotiations are not yet complete because several issues still need to be resolved.
“I still have to get a few more points,” he said.
The president’s comments came after confusion earlier Monday when Iran announced that communications with the United States had been halted because of what it described as Israeli aggression in Lebanon.
However, Trump later signaled that discussions had not collapsed.
In a social media post, the president said negotiations with Iran are still moving forward and are “continuing” at a “rapid pace.”
Iran has not publicly confirmed that talks have resumed.
Trump also used social media to claim he personally intervened to prevent a broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
In one post, he said he spoke directly with Netanyahu and secured assurances that Israel would not send troops into Beirut.
“There will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump wrote.
The statement followed reports that Netanyahu had called for renewed strikes in southern Beirut.
Trump further claimed that Hezbollah agreed to halt attacks on Israel following discussions conducted through intermediaries.
“Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” Trump claimed.
The developments unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to transform the current ceasefire into a broader peace agreement, ABC News reported.
Earlier Monday, reports that Iran had stopped communications raised concerns that negotiations could be unraveling.
Trump, however, dismissed the significance of Tehran’s public statements during a separate interview with NBC News.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, with a substantial portion of global oil exports passing through the narrow waterway.
Reopening the Strait and securing a lasting agreement could have significant implications for energy markets, regional stability, and international trade.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
