Trump: "Indirect talks with Iran are going very well… an agreement possible soon"

U.S. President Donald Trump underscored that indirect negotiations with Iran are progressing smoothly, highlighting the possibility of a diplomatic solution despite heightened military tensions.

According to the UK’s Financial Times (FT) on the 29th (local time), Trump said in an interview that indirect talks via Pakistan are continuing without friction. "The talks are going very well," he said, also indicating that an agreement could be reached soon.

Asked about the possibility of concluding a ceasefire agreement in the coming days and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Trump avoided giving specifics but remarked that "an agreement could be reached relatively quickly." At the same time, he said, "So far, we have struck 13,000 targets, and about 3,000 targets still remain," stressing that the posture of military pressure is also being maintained.

Conciliatory steps by Iran were also cited as supporting the negotiating atmosphere. Trump described Iran’s decision to allow 10 oil tankers flying the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as "a gift to the White House," and claimed the number has since expanded to 20. He said some tankers are already transiting the strait.

He also said that Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf personally approved the tanker transits, suggesting that the negotiation channel is operating in practice.

Markets are focusing on the fact that negotiations are proceeding in parallel even as military clashes continue. In particular, as whether the Strait of Hormuz is reopened could directly affect global crude supply and financial-market volatility, attention is rising on further progress in the talks.