Trump expects more talks with Iran this week: "They stretched the rope too much"

US President Donald Trump said Sunday in a telephone interview with Channel 12 News that he expects additional talks with Iran to take place later this week in an attempt to reach a deal, but said the deal Iranians want is not the deal he wants to make, and did not rule out renewing strikes.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday in a telephone interview with Channel 12 News that he expects additional talks with Iran to take place later this week in another attempt to reach a deal. According to him, "They want to reach a deal, but that's not the deal I want to make. That's a deal maybe we would have agreed to a year ago. They stretched the rope too much." When asked if he is considering renewing strikes against Iran, he replied: "I always think about it."

According to the report, Qatar and other regional mediators are attempting to renew negotiations between the US and Iran, but the gaps on central issues remain very wide: Iran wants to focus talks on the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the American naval blockade, and the Trump administration demands concessions in the nuclear arena. Two regional sources confirmed Trump's comments and said they expect another round of indirect talks this week, possibly as soon as Monday. A regional source involved in indirect negotiations said Qatari mediators worked out a compromise proposal aimed at bridging the gaps and presented it to both sides for review.

American envoys Steve Witkopp and Jared Kushner held on Thursday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, a round of indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to the report, Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and renew nuclear talks within a week, on condition that the US lift the naval blockade, cancel sanctions on oil sales and renew ceasefires across the region. On Saturday Trump said before cameras he rejected the Iranian offer.

Trump also said that US military is moving large quantities of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and that over the weekend the largest amount of oil yet passed through the strait, over 20 million barrels. An American security source confirmed his statement and said that Friday night 22 million barrels of oil were transferred through the strait.