Trump says Iran war talks taking place during lull in strikes
The US president says "there is a good chance that something could happen", as Iran denies direct talks are taking place.
President Trump announced that "good talks" are underway regarding the conflict with Iran, following a three-day cessation of strikes between the two sides.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Monday, Trump expressed optimism for a resolution, stating, "I think there's a good chance that something could happen." However, he cautioned that if the current negotiations fail, Washington would "go back to doing what we were doing" before the pause in hostilities.
Tehran, for its part, has denied that any direct negotiations are taking place.
Trump explained that he decided to halt US strikes on Iran on Friday at the request of mediating countries, who urged him to give diplomatic efforts another opportunity. Iran has also ceased its attacks.
This pause follows nearly two weeks of daily US strikes and retaliatory attacks, which had effectively unraveled the ceasefire established in June. At the time, the US military stated its strikes aimed to "degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," a vital global oil transport route.
On Monday, the price of oil dropped by over 9% to $87.59 a barrel at one point, fueled by hopes of de-escalation in the conflict.
Aboard the presidential plane, Trump also dismissed media reports suggesting that US ammunition stockpiles were dwindling after five months of fighting. "We have a lot of ammunition. We have a lot of the mid-level stuff too, more than we could ever use, no matter what," Trump asserted. "But we have a lot. I'd like to have more." He added that "a lot of equipment" was being manufactured, specifically mentioning Patriots, which are highly valued US-made anti-ballistic missiles. "That system is going up. We have a lot," he said.
Concurrently, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly affirmed that the US military "has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump's strategic goals and beyond, and Operation Epic Fury has exposed what happens when you mess with the United States." She further stated, "Even still, the president has urged our defence contractors to constantly produce more made-in-America weapons, which are the best in the world."
The US and Israel initiated their strikes against Iran on February 28. Tehran responded by launching missiles and drones at US military bases and other assets in Gulf states, as well as targets within Israel.
In June, Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding to cease military operations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and reach an agreement to end the war within the subsequent 60 days. However, after Iranian forces attacked tankers in the waterway on July 13, Washington resumed air strikes against Iran and reinstated its naval blockade of the country's ports. Tehran retaliated with attacks on US military facilities and bases across the Middle East, resulting in the deaths of four American soldiers. According to Iran's health ministry, US strikes have since killed dozens of people.