Trump Expects More US-Iran Talks This Week Despite Rejection

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects the United States and Iran to hold more talks this week, a day after rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal aimed at easing the conflict.

“I expect more talks with Iran [this week],” Trump said in a phone interview with Axios.

Two regional sources told Axios that another round of indirect US-Iran dialogue could take place as early as Monday, although it remained unclear whether the two sides could narrow their differences.

Asked whether he was considering resuming strikes against Iran, Trump said, “I am always thinking about it.”

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a new round of indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last Tuesday. Qatari officials participated in the talks as intermediaries.

During the negotiations, Iran presented conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear talks. Tehran proposed reopening the strait and restarting nuclear negotiations within a week if the United States lifted its naval blockade, removed sanctions on Iranian oil sales and reinstated a regional ceasefire.

Trump rejected the proposal on Saturday.

Despite the rejection, Araghchi said Sunday that Iran remained committed to finding a diplomatic solution.

“Although we heard from President Trump that he's rejecting this deal ... we are still waiting for an official response through the mediators,” Araghchi told NBC.

The latest developments come as Qatar and other regional mediators continue efforts to revive negotiations, with the two sides still divided over the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions and Iran’s nuclear programme.