Trump repeats claims that Iran deal is only ‘days’ away, despite recent strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump repeated the claim that a deal to end the war in Iran could be reached in “two or three days,” and that the critical Strait of Hormuz would reopen “immediately” after such a deal. 

Speaking to reporters after attending the NBA Finals in New York, Trump said that the two parties are in the final stages of a “very, very good deal that will not in any way allow nuclear weapons.”

The fragile ceasefire in the Middle East frayed over the weekend, as Iran and Israel traded strikes for the first time since it came into effect in mid-April.

The Islamic Republic fired missiles toward northern Israel after accusing Jerusalem of violating the truce through its strikes on Lebanon, which included an attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday. Israel said it carried out a “large-scale strike on strategic defense systems” in response. 

Iran’s military then announced it had ceased strikes against Israel, but Tehran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told CNBC that it would resume hostilities if the Israel Defense Forces continue to attack Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war against Iran and its Lebanon-based proxy Hezbollah “has not yet ended,” insisting both are weaker than ever. 

Trump has previously promised an imminent resolution to the conflict, only for hostilities to resume later. He initially said fighting would last four to six weeks. It crossed the 100-day mark on Sunday.

Trump told reporters that ​the pilots of a U.S. military ‌Apache helicopter that went down on Monday near the Strait of Hormuz “are fine.”

He added that there was “nobody injured” and that the administration would release a report on Tuesday. The cause is unknown.

Before the confrontation between Israel and Iran deescalated on Monday, Trump posted to Truth Social that negotiations were still “proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.”

He added that an ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman will not be lifted “until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached.”

Oil prices dipped Tuesday morning upon the news. Brent crude futures fell 1.3% to $93.02 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate were down 1.8%, at $89.67 a barrel.