Trump Says New Round Of Talks Could Take Place This Weekend: ‘We’re Dealing Very Nicely With Them’

President Donald Trump said a new round of negotiations with Iran could take place this weekend as he appears to suggest the war is close to being over.

“Iran wants to make a deal, and we’re dealing very nicely with them,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. He went on the express hope that the ceasefire with the country won’t need to be extended after it expires next Tuesday.

“We have a very good relationship with Iran right now… and I think it’s a combination of about four weeks of bombing and a very powerful blockade,” Trump said, in reference to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which is preventing Tehran from exporting oil through the key waterway.

In an event in Las Vegas on Thursday Trump also said the war “should be ending pretty soon” and could even go to Pakistan for a signing ceremony if a deal is indeed reached. “They want me,” he said.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that ongoing negotiations are addressing the issue of passage through the strait. Iran wants the unfreezing of some of its funds to allow ships to go through, according to the report. The country could let ships said through Oman’s side of the strait in the scenario.

The enrichment of uranium appears to remain a sticking point. Trump has also said Iran has agreed to hand over “nuclear dust” buried in last year’s strikes on key facilities. There has been no confirmation from Iran, and officials have constantly reasserted the country’s right to continue enriching uranium.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has said the country is open to discussing the type and magnitude of enrichment but, “based on its needs,” it “must be able to continue enrichment.”

In the meantime, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said forces are ready to go back to fighting if a deal is not reached. “We are reloading with more power than ever before, and better intelligence,” he said on Thursday.

“We are locked and loaded on your critical dual-use infrastructure, on your remaining power generation, and on your energy industry. We’d rather not have to do it.”