US President Donald Trump has claimed that only he and a select few are aware of the true status of ongoing talks with Iran, indicating that negotiations may be progressing despite appearing stalled publicly.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said, “Nobody knows what the talks are, except myself and a couple of other people,” while also pointing to uncertainty surrounding Iran’s leadership.
“We have a problem because nobody knows for sure who the leaders are. It’s a little bit of a problem,” he remarked.
Trump reiterated that Tehran was keen to reach an agreement, asserting that US measures, including a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, were having a significant impact. “Their economy is crashing. The blockade is incredible. The power of the blockade is incredible,” he said.
He also downplayed the likelihood of ending the current ceasefire and resuming military action against Iran, stating, “I don’t know that we need it. We might need it.”
Responding to a question about whether he was feeling uneasy about maintaining the ceasefire, Trump repeated that only a handful of individuals were privy to the actual state of negotiations, suggesting quiet progress behind the scenes.
White House press secretary briefs on the US-Iran talks
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, on April 28, said that the US is considering Iran’s proposal on the Strait of Hormuz.
An important national security meeting was held under the chairmanship of US President Donald Trump to discuss in detail the Iranian aggression, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and regional security, she said.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing that Iran’s proposal on the Strait of Hormuz was being considered, but the United States will keep the national interests and security concerns into account.
Karoline Leavitt made it clear that the “red lines” on the part of the US president on Iran are predetermined and do not indicate any leniency.
She said the United States wants stability in the region, but no one will accept a move that goes against global trade rules or the interests of allies.
Various options are being considered for possible diplomatic progress with Iran; however, no final decision has been made yet, Karoline said.
Read more: “Iran wants to make a deal badly”: US President claims
