US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran had directly contacted Washington and expressed a willingness to reach a deal, as he said the ongoing war appeared to be approaching its conclusion.
Asked about the current phase of the war, Trump said, “Hopefully we are towards the end of the war,” reports Anadolu.
“They want to make a deal, and we’ll see how that works out,” he told reporters after landing in North Carolina.
When asked whether Iran had contacted the US directly or through intermediaries, Trump said he had heard from Iran directly.
Trump’s remarks came as tensions between Iran and the US remained high over the Strait of Hormuz, despite a memorandum signed in June that envisaged a deal to reopen the strategic waterway as a step towards a broader peace agreement.
The US and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran in February, striking government buildings, military sites, missile infrastructure and air defence systems.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases across the region.
The conflict has since spread across the region, while diplomatic efforts continue to bring the hostilities to an end.
