US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran has reached out to Washington seeking a negotiated settlement, even as the US continued fresh military strikes against Iranian targets. 

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while travelling to Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, Trump said that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly weakened and suggested Tehran was now looking for a diplomatic way forward.

Trump claims Iran has contacted the US

According to audio of his remarks shared by the account “Clash Report,” Trump said Iran was eager to negotiate after recent developments on the battlefield.

Also Read | ‘It will get much worse’: US launches fresh strikes on Iran after attacks on cargo ships in Strait of Hormuz

“We’ve already won militarily. They have very little, they have very little left,” Trump said.

He further claimed that Iranian officials had contacted the US administration.

“And they want to make a deal so badly. They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly,” he added.

Despite the claim, Trump questioned whether Iran would honour any future agreement. 

“I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know that they’re going to honour the deal. That’s the problem,” he said.

Fresh US strikes follow Hormuz tensions 

Trump’s remarks came hours after US Central Command confirmed another round of strikes on Iranian targets. The military operation was aimed at protecting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after what Trump described as an Iranian attack on commercial vessels a day earlier. 

Videos circulating on social media, including footage shared by Trump, appeared to show explosions and fires at locations in Iranshahr, Chabahar and Bushehr province. However, the visuals could not be independently verified. 

The latest comments point to the possibility of diplomatic communication continuing even as military operations remain underway. Trump also warned that any further Iranian aggression would invite a stronger American response.

Ceasefire collapses after attacks on commercial vessels

The renewed conflict follows the collapse of a memorandum of understanding reached last month with the help of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Under the 60-day ceasefire arrangement, Iran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the US lifted a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

The agreement broke down after three commercial vessels were attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. In response, Washington withdrew a sanctions waiver covering Iranian oil sales and launched a new wave of strikes.

Also Read | ‘I don’t want to deal with Iranians’: Trump declares ceasefire ‘over’ after fresh US strikes

According to CENTCOM, more than 80 targets were hit, including air defence systems and vessels linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Iran later responded with drone and missile attacks on US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. Iranian officials also said strikes in Khuzestan province killed one person and injured two others.

Earlier at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump declared the ceasefire “over,” saying, “we hit them very hard last night, and we’ll probably hit them hard again tonight.” He also renewed threats to target Iranian infrastructure, including desalination and electric plants.

FAQs:

Why did the US launch fresh strikes on Iran?

The US said the strikes were aimed at protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after attacks on commercial vessels.

What did Donald Trump say about Iran wanting a deal?

Trump claimed Iran had contacted the US seeking negotiations but questioned whether Tehran would honour any agreement.