Trump says new Iran deal is 'imminent,' negotiations resume Monday
Trump said he called off the strikes after appeals from regional leaders.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.
The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz the primary flashpoint.
Key Headlines
Trump says 'very friendly negotiations' happening with Iran
President Donald Trump said Monday there are "very friendly negotiations" happening with Iran, even though Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Monday that the Iranian delegation has made no pleas or requests to continue negotiations and he said Iran rejected an American proposal.
“Right now, they're talking to us about making a deal,” Trump said during remarks in Michigan. “But if we didn't do it tough, there would be no talk.”
Trump repeated his statements that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
“We’re winning big time with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we're ensuring that they never have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “When somebody comes up and says, ‘Why are we doing this?’ Just say, ‘Because we cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.’ It's very simple.”
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart
60 dead in 12 days of strikes: Iranian Health Ministry
The Iranian Health Ministry said the last 12 days of strikes by the U.S. left 60 people dead and about 670 others injured.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister: 'Iran rejected an American proposal'
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Monday that the Iranian delegation has made no pleas or requests to continue negotiations and he said Iran rejected an American proposal.
Trump claims US and Iran are 'meeting'
President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. and Iranian representatives are meeting for renewed peace talks amid a lull in fighting, even though Iran continues to publicly insist it is not currently negotiating with the U.S.
"They want to meet, and we're meeting," Trump said. "We'll see what happens. There's a chance we could make a deal, but without what we did they wouldn't even be talking to us. They requested a meeting through their surrogates and directly, and we're meeting."
Trump also said he is not in a rush to reach a deal with Iran.
“I have plenty of time,” Trump told reporters when asked how much patience he had.
Asked whether he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are on the same page, Trump indicated that they mostly are. Trump said if Iran does not make a deal, the U.S. will "go back to the same thing."
"Yeah, for a little difference, but pretty close,” Trump said. “Yeah. Well, Iran took a beating over the last 14 days, and they asked us very nicely, 'Please stop, let's meet.' And that's where we are right now, let's see what happens. If we don't make a deal, we go back to the same thing.”
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart