US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism that the ongoing conflict involving Iran could end soon, saying efforts to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons are widely supported.
His comments come as Iran confirmed that it is still reviewing a US proposal aimed at ending the conflict and relaunching broader nuclear negotiations.
According to reports from Axios and Reuters, Washington is working on a 14-point memorandum of understanding that could serve as a framework for future discussions between the two countries. The proposal reportedly includes provisions related to suspending Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, easing sanctions and reopening transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Iranian officials have reacted cautiously. A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran would communicate its position through Pakistani mediators once its review is completed. Meanwhile, senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei dismissed the proposal as unrealistic and warned that Iran was prepared to respond strongly if pressure from the United States continued.
During a virtual campaign event, Trump said he believed negotiations were progressing positively and suggested a deal could be reached in the near future. He also reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a key objective of the United States.
At the same time, Trump warned that military action could intensify if negotiations fail. He stated that any renewed bombing campaign would be more severe than previous operations if Iran refused to accept the proposed terms.
The tensions come after Trump temporarily paused “Project Freedom,” a US-led initiative designed to assist commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation had aimed to help vessels stranded in the Gulf after Iran effectively blocked traffic through the strategic waterway earlier this year.
The Strait of Hormuz remains critical to global energy markets, with around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments normally passing through the route.
US Central Command also confirmed new incidents in the Gulf region, including action against an Iranian-flagged oil tanker accused of attempting to bypass restrictions imposed by Washington.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was full coordination between Israel and the United States regarding Iran. He stressed that dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities remains a shared objective between the two allies.
Meanwhile, tensions continue elsewhere in the region. Israel carried out fresh strikes in Beirut targeting a senior Hezbollah commander, despite an existing ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese armed group.
Although diplomatic efforts appear to be advancing, uncertainty remains over whether negotiations will successfully prevent a broader return to military confrontation in the Middle East.
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