U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that negotiations with Iran are going "very well," with a new round of talks potentially occurring this weekend.
He emphasized that if a deal is signed, the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened immediately
Trump said that the agreement would require Iran to commit to never possessing nuclear weapons, never developing them independently, and never acquiring them through other means. He mentioned that the initial draft only stipulated that Iran would not develop weapons on its own, which led to two weeks of negotiations to include the additional clause prohibiting acquisition by other means. As long as Iran signs that document, the deal will formally take effect.
"In theory, they're pretty close to signing the paper," Trump said.
On the subject of Iranian enriched uranium, Trump said "we will get" it.
The president said he prefers pursuing a diplomatic solution if the same goal can be achieved through a written agreement without causing mass casualties.
"We could go another two, three weeks and just wipe everybody out. I'd rather not do that," he said.
Additionally, Trump indicated his intention to separate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz from ongoing conflicts in Lebanon.
During a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the military operation against Iran, referred to as Operation Epic Fury, is over, claiming a victory for the United States.
Trump says talks with Iran go very well
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for maximum military restraint and full adherence to the localized ceasefire on Friday, after Russian personnel were reportedly injured near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
The IAEA said it has been informed that some Russian military personnel were injured during Friday's de-mining phase of the agreed localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Earlier on Friday, the IAEA announced the start of a localized ceasefire it brokered on the front line near the Zaporizhzhia NPP, enabling repairs to the plant's crucial power line.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the restoration of the off-site power line would be an important and positive step for nuclear safety, which is in everybody's vital interest.
"Today, we have been able to agree on the sixth ceasefire, localized ceasefire brokered by us, the IAEA, with Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This will allow experts and technicians from both sides to start very crucial repairs of the Dniprovska line. It's the 750-kilowatt line, the main line that is still standing there," Grossi noted.
The line has been disconnected for more than two months. The Zaporizhzhia NPP had to rely on emergency diesel generators for the electricity it needed to cool its six shutdown reactors in the event of a power outage during military conflicts.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, one of Europe's largest nuclear power facilities, has been under Russian control since March 2022.
Alexey Likhachev, director general of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, reported Ukrainian drone strikes on the Zaporizhzhia NPP on Friday afternoon. "Three of our engineers were injured, two of them are in serious condition," Likhachev was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Interfax.
According to the IAEA, the incident is currently being investigated, and the Ukrainian side said it remains committed to the ceasefire.
IAEA chief calls for restraint, adherence to ceasefire near Zaporizhzhia
