President suggests diplomatic opening remains possible even as military buildup continues and April 12 deadline approaches for nuclear negotiations
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran “would like to make a deal” on its nuclear program and regional activities, offering the first public hint that diplomatic channels may remain open despite escalating military confrontations in the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump suggested Tehran is feeling pressure from the combination of U.S. troop deployments and economic sanctions, though he provided no details about specific communications or what terms Iran might be willing to accept.
“I think they’d like to make a deal,” Trump said when asked about prospects for negotiations ahead of the April 12 deadline his administration has set. “They’re under tremendous pressure. Their economy is not doing well. We’ll see what happens.”
The president’s comments came just two days after Iranian missiles struck Israeli territory, wounding more than a dozen people in one of the most direct military confrontations between Iran and Israel in years. That attack followed the Pentagon’s announcement of major troop deployments to the region, including elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and Marine Corps units.
Trump did not directly address the missile strikes in his remarks Thursday, though he repeated his longstanding position that Iran has behaved differently since he returned to office. “They know we mean business this time,” he said.
Administration officials have said privately that indirect communications with Iran continue through intermediaries, though they declined to characterize the substance of those exchanges. The Swiss government, which represents U.S. interests in Tehran, has facilitated messaging between the two countries, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the contacts.
“There are always channels, even in the most tense situations,” said Robert Malley, who served as U.S. special envoy for Iran during the Biden administration. “The question is whether either side is prepared to make the compromises necessary for an agreement, and right now the public posturing suggests they’re far apart.”
The administration has not publicly detailed what it expects from Iran by the April 12 deadline, but officials say demands include halting uranium enrichment beyond levels specified in the 2015 nuclear agreement, ending support for armed groups across the region, and releasing detained American citizens and dual nationals.
Iran has repeatedly rejected what it calls U.S. ultimatums. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that Tehran would negotiate “as equals” but would not accept terms dictated under military threat. He accused the Trump administration of trying to relitigate issues settled in the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which the U.S. withdrew from during Trump’s first term.
Trump’s suggestion that Iran wants an agreement stands in contrast to the defiant tone from Iranian officials this week. After the missile strikes on Israel, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned of further action if Tehran’s interests were threatened, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not be “coerced by American military adventurism.”
Some analysts interpreted Trump’s remarks as an attempt to provide diplomatic space after a week of military escalation, potentially signaling that Washington is not seeking armed conflict despite the troop buildup.
“The president is leaving the door open,” said Dennis Ross, a former Middle East negotiator who worked in multiple administrations. “Whether that’s because he genuinely believes a deal is possible or because he wants to avoid blame if things go badly, it does create room for a diplomatic off-ramp.”
Markets responded cautiously to Trump’s comments. Oil prices, which had climbed steadily this week amid concerns about potential disruptions to Persian Gulf shipping, declined 1.8% after his remarks suggested conflict might not be inevitable.
European officials, who have urged both Washington and Tehran to pursue negotiations, welcomed any indication that diplomatic options remained viable. A spokesperson for the European Union’s foreign policy chief said the bloc stood ready to facilitate talks if both parties were willing.
Congressional Democrats have pressed the administration to clarify its strategy and provide evidence that diplomacy is being given a genuine chance before any military action. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump’s remarks raised as many questions as they answered.
“If the president believes a deal is possible, then he should be working with Congress to define what that deal looks like and what authority he needs,” Kaine said in a statement Thursday. “What we can’t have is vague talk about diplomacy while thousands of troops deploy for potential combat operations.”
The president’s optimism about Iranian intentions contrasts with assessments from some intelligence officials, who have told lawmakers in classified briefings that Iran appears to be preparing for prolonged confrontation rather than compromise, according to congressional aides familiar with the briefings.
Trump has long maintained that his administration’s “maximum pressure” approach toward Iran—combining sanctions, military deterrence, and diplomatic isolation—would eventually force Tehran to negotiate on U.S. terms. His comments Thursday suggested he believes that strategy is working, though whether Iran shares that view remains unclear.
With less than two weeks until the administration’s deadline, the gap between Trump’s public assessment and Iran’s stated position leaves considerable uncertainty about what happens next. Military forces continue flowing into the region, diplomatic contacts remain tentative, and the recent exchange of fire between Iran and Israel has added volatility to an already precarious situation.
“Saying someone wants a deal and actually getting one are very different things,” said Suzanne Maloney, an Iran expert at the Brookings Institution. “Right now we have troops deploying, missiles flying, and both sides claiming they’re open to talks. Something has to give, and we’ll know soon whether the president’s read on Iran’s intentions is accurate or wishful thinking.”