Trump says US will not "rush into a deal" with Iran

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before leaving the White House in Washington D.C. Oct. 10, 2019. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he has told his diplomatic representatives not to rush into a deal with Iran because "time is on our side."

"The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed," he said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would not sign a final deal with Iran unless Tehran dismantled its nuclear programme and removed all enriched uranium from its territory, an Israeli government source said on Sunday.

The remark was made during an overnight phone call between Trump and Netanyahu.

Briefing reporters, the official said Trump had made the conditions clear in U.S.-Iran negotiations.

"The United States has been updating Israel on negotiations over a memorandum of understanding to open the Strait of Hormuz and enter talks on a final agreement on the disputed issues," the official added.

During the call, Netanyahu stressed that Israel would "maintain freedom of action against threats on all fronts, including Lebanon," and Trump reaffirmed his backing for that principle, according to the official.

The remarks came amid reports of progress in the talks and ahead of a meeting of Netanyahu's security cabinet later on Sunday.

A ceasefire was announced in April, but Israel has not withdrawn its forces from southern Lebanon and continues to carry out daily strikes, saying it targets Hezbollah sites and fighters.

At least 3,089 people have been killed and 9,397 injured by Israeli attacks since March 2, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Trump announced Saturday that a peace agreement with Iran has been "largely negotiated", subject to finalisation between the United States, Iran and other relevant countries in the Middle East.

As part of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Final aspects and details of the deal are being discussed and will be announced shortly, he said.

On Saturday afternoon, Trump spoke by phone with Gulf and other regional leaders to review Iran's latest proposal.

Trump said he also had a separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which, likewise, went very well. 

'A lot closer' to finalizing deal

He also said the US and Iran are "getting a lot closer" to finalising an agreement between the two countries, CBS News reported.

The latest proposal includes a process to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, the unfreezing of some Iranian assets held in foreign banks, and a continuation of negotiations, according to the CBS report.

Trump also told US news outlet Axios that he might decide on Sunday whether to resume the conflict with Iran following discussions with his advisers.

"Either we reach a good deal or I'll blow them to a thousand hells," Trump was quoted as saying.

Trump said he would meet later Saturday with his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss Iran's latest response. Vice-President JD Vance is also expected to attend.

'Progress made in Iran talks'

Responding to a media query during his India visit on Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that progress has been made in the talks with Iran.

Rubio said that the United States "will have something to say" regarding the talks in the coming days.

The US top diplomat reiterated the US stance that Iran "must not have nuclear weapons", the Strait of Hormuz "be open without tolls", and Iran "turn over their enriched uranium".

Trump's preference is always to solve such problems through a negotiated diplomatic solution, said Rubio, noting that it is what the United States is currently working on.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran and the United States are working to finalize a memorandum of understanding on ending the conflict.

"At this stage, our focus is on ending the imposed war," Baghaei told state-run IRIB news agency, following a visit to Tehran on Friday by a Pakistani delegation that included Army Chief Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

"Our intention has been to firstly agree on a MoU consisting of 14 clauses," Baghaei said, noting that "within a period of 30 to 60 days", they would "reach a final agreement".

"We are at the stage of finalizing the MoU. The issues that are being discussed are focused on ending the war (on all fronts, including Lebanon)," he said. "Among the major topics to be addressed in the MoU are the cessation of US maritime attacks, or naval blockade as they themselves call it, and other issues pertaining to the release of Iranian frozen assets."