US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a second round of talks with Iran could take place this weekend, a week after negotiations in Islamabad failed to result in an agreement to permanently end the war.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump expressed his hope that a temporary extension of the two-week truce set to expire on April 21 won’t be necessary and that the sides would reach a deal for a permanent ceasefire.

“Iran wants to make a deal, and we’re dealing very nicely with them,” Trump said.

Trump said he may even travel to Pakistan for a signing ceremony if a deal is reached. “If a deal is signed in Islamabad I may go,” Trump said. “They want me.”

He also claimed the US blockade of Iranian-linked ships trying to cross through the Strait of Hormuz has been an effective tool in bringing Iran to the table.

Trump insisted his red line is that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. He then claimed that Tehran has already agreed to this demand and to give up its stockpile of highly-enriched uranium — which the Islamic Republic has not shown any indication that it is prepared to do.

“They’ve agreed to give us back the nuclear dust,” he said.

“We have a very good relationship with Iran right now… and I think it’s a combination of about four weeks of bombing and a very powerful blockade,” Trump added.

The United States earlier threatened to resume airstrikes on the Islamic Republic and maintain a naval blockade of its ports if Tehran refused to accept a deal to solve the conflict.

Israel launched its campaign against Iran, alongside the US, to degrade the Iranian regime’s military capabilities, distance threats posed by Iran — including its nuclear and ballistic missile programs — and “create the conditions” for the Iranian people to topple the regime, the military and other Israeli leaders have said.

Iranian state television........

© The Times of Israel