President Trump said Saturday he is “50/50” on whether the U.S. will resume bombing Iran, revealing he expects to make a final decision by Sunday.
“I think one of two things will happen: either I hit them harder than they have ever been hit, or we are going to sign a deal that is good,” Trump told Axios on Saturday.
The president said he, along with Vice President JD Vance, planned to meet with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner later Saturday to discuss Iran’s latest proposal.
Trump described the situation as a “solid 50/50” – saying he could either secure a “good” agreement with Tehran or “blow them to kingdom come.”
Under the proposed outline, which evolved from the latest peace talks between Iran and Pakistan, the U.S. and Iran would agree to halt military action and enter into a 30-day period of more detailed negotiations aimed at reaching a broader agreement. Trump said any deal would need to address key nuclear issues, including uranium enrichment and the fate of Iran’s existing uranium stockpile.
Iran signaled “narrowing differences” in negotiations with the U.S. after Pakistan’s army chief held more talks in Tehran, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in India that “there’s been some progress made” and “there may be news later today.”
Trump “has other options” if diplomacy doesn’t work, Rubio said, admitting that there was still work to be done.
“There’s been some progress. I wouldn’t exaggerate it. I wouldn’t diminish it,” Rubio told reporters after a Nato ministers meeting in Sweden.
“There’s more work to be done,” he admitted. “We’re not there yet. I hope we get there.”
Rubio said Trump would prefer to make a good deal, but will need to discuss concerns about Iran’s possible access to nuclear weapons, the issue of future uranium enrichment, and the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’re dealing with a very difficult group of people, and if it doesn’t change, then the president’s been clear he has other options,” Rubio added.
On Saturday, the president also acknowledged divisions among allies and advisers over the next step, but rejected the idea that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “worried” about Trump’s negotiations, Axios reported.
“Some people would much rather have a deal and others would rather resume the war,” Trump told the outlet.
The U.S. and Israel sparked the war with attacks on Feb. 28, cutting short talks with Iran. Tehran retaliated by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the region’s oil, natural gas and fertilizer, causing global economic pain.
The U.S. then blockaded Iranian ports, and the U.S. Central Command on Saturday said U.S. forces had turned away more than 100 commercial vessels and disabled four since the blockade began April 13.
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