Trump Says Iran Talks Are Underway, Warns US Could Resume Military Action if They Fail

President Donald Trump said on July 27 that talks with Iran are underway and could still produce an agreement, but warned the US would resume intense military action if the negotiations fail.

Trump made the remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Michigan, saying Iran had sought talks and that meetings are now taking place.

"Iran asked for talks, both through intermediaries and directly, and we are in talks," Trump said. "There's a chance of a deal. Something good could happen."

He added that there was "a pretty good chance" something would happen. If not, he said, "we'll just go back to what we were doing two days ago."

Trump said Iran had come to the table because of strong US military pressure. Asked whether there was enough time for negotiations, he said there was.

In a later speech in Michigan, Trump again said the talks with Iran were proceeding in a friendly atmosphere.

He also repeated his longstanding claim that Iran received $1.7 billion in exchange for the 2015 nuclear deal under former President Barack Obama. "You can't buy Iran," Trump said. "You have to beat them, and we will dominate them completely, but we'll see what happens."

"We are winning big against Iran, and we are making sure they never get a nuclear weapon," he said.

Trump made similar comments in an earlier interview with Axios, saying substantive negotiations with Iran were underway and that the US would pursue strong military action if the talks failed to deliver results.

The US halted its airstrikes on Iran on July 24 after 13 days, following attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and on US military bases in the Middle East. The two countries are continuing talks through mediators over reopening passage through the Strait of Hormuz and restarting nuclear negotiations.

Trump also pushed back on media reports that US ammunition stockpiles had been depleted by the war in Ukraine and military operations involving Iran. He said the US had ample supplies of various types of munitions.

He added that former President Joe Biden had provided large-scale support to Ukraine and that the US is now replenishing its inventories.

Trump said defense contractors are operating four to five plants each and that the broader situation is sound. He added that he wants to secure more advanced equipment.

Asked whether there were differences with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Iran ahead of their meeting the next day, Trump said the two sides differed somewhat but were broadly aligned.

On allegations that Russia provided Iran with satellite images of US bases in the Gulf to help with targeting, Trump said, "We'll find out soon," adding that he would ask Russian President Vladimir Putin directly.

Shin Yong-hyun, Hankyung.com reporter yonghyun@hankyung.com