US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects the United States and Iran to hold further talks this week, a day after confirming that he had rejected Tehran’s latest proposal for a truce.
“I expect more talks with Iran [this week],” Trump said in a phone interview with US online news outlet Axios.
Citing two regional sources, Axios reported that another round of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran could take place as early as Monday. However, it remained unclear whether the two sides would be able to narrow their differences.
Asked whether he was considering resuming strikes against Iran, Trump said, “I am always thinking about it.”
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a fresh round of indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last Tuesday.
According to Axios, Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear negotiations within a week in return for the United States lifting its naval blockade, removing sanctions on Iranian oil sales and restoring a regional ceasefire.
Trump rejected the proposal on Saturday.
However, Araghchi said Sunday that Iran remained committed to finding a diplomatic solution despite the US president’s rejection.
“Although we heard from President Trump that he’s rejecting this deal … we are still waiting for an official response through the mediators,” Araghchi told NBC.
