WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran contacted him “a while ago” and indicated it wants to negotiate a new agreement with the United States, according to Reuters, signaling a possible opening for diplomacy despite escalating tensions between the two countries.
Speaking during the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said Iranian officials had initiated contact rather than the other way around.
“They called me a while ago,” Trump said, adding that Iran “wants to make a deal,” according to Reuters. The president did not specify when the communication occurred or provide details about the substance of the reported outreach.
Trump’s remarks come amid renewed instability in U.S.-Iran relations following the collapse of an interim agreement intended to create space for broader negotiations. Earlier this week, the president declared that the temporary accord was “over” after indirect talks failed to produce progress and following renewed military exchanges involving U.S. and Iranian forces.
Despite his claim that Tehran is seeking renewed negotiations, Trump has maintained a firm stance, previously stating that the United States would either secure a new agreement with Iran or “finish the job” if diplomacy failed. His administration has continued to increase economic pressure through sanctions while emphasizing that any future agreement must prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Iran has not publicly confirmed Trump’s latest assertion that it reached out seeking a deal. In recent weeks, Iranian officials have repeatedly denied some of Trump’s claims regarding direct contacts while insisting that any diplomatic progress would require respect for Iran’s sovereignty and the lifting of sanctions.
The latest comments suggest that, despite heightened military and political tensions, the possibility of renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran remains under discussion, even as both sides continue to exchange sharp rhetoric.