US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (April 13th) that Iran had agreed to give up its nuclear weapons pursuit, calling it a major breakthrough in the ongoing standoff.
“The big thing we have to do is make sure Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “They agreed to it… very strongly.
He added that Tehran had also agreed to return enriched uranium buried deep underground following recent US strikes.
“They agreed to give us back the nuclear dust that is deep underground because of the attack we did with the B-2 bombers,” he said. “So we have a lot of agreement with Iran.
“Very close to agreement”
Trump struck an upbeat tone in the negotiations, saying the prospects for a deal “look very good” and progress is moving quickly.
“I don’t think we’re waiting. I think we’re moving very quickly. It could happen pretty quickly,” he said.
“It looks very good that we’re going to make a deal with Iran, and it’s going to be a good deal,” Trump added, adding that talks could resume as early as the weekend.
However, Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed agreement to such terms.
Armistice date and possible extension
The current 14-day ceasefire is set to expire on April 22, but Trump has indicated flexibility if talks move forward.
“If we’re close to a deal … yes, I would do it,” he said when asked about extending the deadline.
While Trump expressed confidence that a deal could be reached soon, he acknowledged that an extension remains possible if necessary.
the mediating role of Pakistan
“The field marshal has been great. The prime minister has been really great in Pakistan,” Trump said, adding that he might travel to Islamabad if a deal is struck.
“If the agreement is signed in Islamabad, I could go… they want me,” he added.
Military pressure and the blockade continue
Despite diplomatic progress, the US continues to maintain military pressure. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that combat operations could resume if the talks fail.
“We’d rather do it nicely … or we can do it the hard way,” Hegseth said earlier.
The US naval blockade on Iranian shipping remains in place, with vessels reportedly turning away rather than try to enforce it.
Regional dynamics complicate negotiations
The wider conflict continues to cast a shadow over the negotiations. Fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon has added to the complexity, even as a separate Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is sought.
Trump earlier announced a 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon and said he had directed senior officials including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to work toward a lasting peace.
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