SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday raised hopes that the U.S. is "closing in on a deal" with Iran to end the prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
In a phone interview with PBS News, Trump said, "I think it's got a very good chance of ending," suggesting that the deal could be reached before his trip to China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.
But he left some doubt, saying, "I felt that way before with them, so we'll see what happens." He then warned that the U.S. would resume bombing Iran if no deal is reached. "If it doesn't end, we have to go back to bombing the hell out of them."
"But it's getting very close. If they agree, it's over, and if they don't agree, we bomb," he added.
When asked whether Iran would export its highly enriched uranium, possibly to the U.S. as part of the deal, Trump replied, "No, not perhaps. It goes to the United States." He also confirmed that Iran would agree not to operate its underground nuclear facilities.
His comments came several hours after American news website Axios reported that Washington and Tehran are working on a "one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU)" that would "declare an end to the war in the region and the start of a 30-day period of negotiations on a detailed agreement to open the strait, limit Iran's nuclear program and lift U.S. sanctions."
Later in the day, during a press availability at the White House, Trump again said, "We've had very good talks over the last 24 hours and it's very possible that we'll make a deal up there," adding that Iran "badly" wants to make a deal.
He also reiterated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, saying it had "agreed to that among other things."
But amid a war of words, it remains to be seen whether any deal will be reached to end the prolonged conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli joint airstrikes against Iran in late February. Tehran says it is still reviewing the proposal, dismissing Trump's claims as a pressure tactic to push for a deal.
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