Trump Says Iran Talks to Resume as US Pursues Hormuz Reopening, Nuclear Negotiations

President Donald Trump said the US will resume negotiations with Iran while pursuing parallel talks on restoring normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz and ending Tehran's nuclear program.

Bloomberg reported on August 2 that Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One a new round of talks with Iran would begin later that afternoon. "We'll see if we can reach a deal instead of an attack," he said.

He also said an agreement on normalizing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was getting closer. Trump reiterated that negotiations to end Iran's nuclear program would continue.

Trump said he put a planned strike on Iran on hold after requests from Middle Eastern allies, including Saudi Arabia. He said those countries had conveyed a preference for a diplomatic agreement over military action, and that negotiations were the better choice because it was impossible to predict how far an attack might spread.

He added that the operation originally under consideration could have become the largest attack since World War II. "I'm not looking to kill people. I'm looking to make a deal," he said.

Trump's remarks on restarting talks boosted hopes for easing tensions in the Middle East, sending oil prices lower. Brent crude for October delivery fell as much as 7.3% intraday to $81.55 a barrel.