Trump says Iran contacts US directly, wants to make a deal

US President Donald Trump. (Photo/AP)

US President Donald Trump has announced that Iran has reached out directly to Washington seeking to negotiate an agreement, describing the ongoing war as approaching its final phase.

Asked by reporters to assess what stage the conflict has reached, Trump said: "Hopefully we are towards the end of the war."

"They want to make a deal, and we'll see how that works out," Trump told journalists upon landing in North Carolina.

When pressed on whether the communication arrived directly or via third-party intermediaries, Trump stated that he had heard from Iranian officials directly.

Strait of Hormuz tensions

The remarks come against a backdrop of acute friction between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, despite a memorandum signed in June that outlined a framework to reopen the critical waterway as a stepping stone toward a broader regional peace settlement.

The conflict erupted after the United States and Israel launched coordinated, large-scale air strikes against Iran in February, hitting government buildings, military headquarters, missile infrastructure, and air defence networks.

Tehran retaliated by launching waves of ballistic missiles and armed drones against Israel and US military bases across the Middle East.

The confrontation has since widened into a broader regional war, even as international diplomatic channels continue seeking an enduring halt to hostilities.

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Source: TRT