President Donald Trump said on Monday that “good talks” were taking place over the conflict with Iran after the warring sides did not exchange strikes for a third straight day. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said he believed there was a chance for progress, but warned that Washington would resume its previous actions if the latest negotiations failed.
Tehran has denied that any direct negotiations are taking place. Trump said he had decided to pause US strikes on Iran on Friday because the countries mediating between the two sides had asked him to give the talks another chance. Iran has also halted its attacks.
The pause follows nearly two weeks of daily US strikes and tit-for-tat attacks, effectively unravelling the ceasefire struck in June. The US military said at the time that its strikes were aimed to “degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz” - a global route for transporting oil.
Oil prices fell by more than 9% on Monday to $87.59 a barrel at one point on hopes the conflict could be de-escalated.
What did Trump say about the talks?
Trump said there were “very friendly negotiations going on” about the conflict with Iran after the third day without strikes. He expressed optimism for an end to the war on Monday and told reporters aboard Air Force One:
“I think there's a good chance that something could happen.”
He also cautioned that the United States would return to its earlier military actions if the latest talks did not produce results.
“go back to doing what we were doing”
Why did the US pause its strikes?
Trump said he paused US strikes on Iran on Friday because mediators had asked for more time for negotiations. He said the pause was intended to give the talks another chance, while Iran also halted its attacks during the lull.
Tehran, however, has denied that any direct negotiations are taking place.
What is the status of US military supplies?
On the presidential plane, Trump dismissed media reports that US ammunition stockpiles were running low after five months of fighting. He said the United States had plenty of munitions and mid-level equipment, but added that he would prefer to have more.
“We have a lot of ammunition. We have a lot of the mid-level stuff too, more than we could ever use, no matter what,”Trump said.
“But we have a lot. I'd like to have more.”
He also said a “lot of equipment” was being built, particularly Patriots, the highly valued US-made anti-ballistic missiles.
“That system is going up. We have a lot,”he said.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the US military had enough munitions, ammo and stockpiles to support Trump’s strategic goals. She also said Operation Epic Fury had shown what happens when the United States is challenged.
“has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump's strategic goals and beyond, and Operation Epic Fury has exposed what happens when you mess with the United States.”
Kelly added that Trump had urged defence contractors to keep producing more made-in-America weapons, which she described as the best in the world.
“Even still, the president has urged our defence contractors to constantly produce more made-in-America weapons, which are the best in the world,”she said.
How did the conflict escalate?
The US and Israel launched their strikes against Iran on 28 February. Tehran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at US military bases and other assets in Gulf states, as well as at targets inside Israel.
In June, Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding to stop military operations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and to reach an agreement to end the war over the following 60 days.
But after Iranian forces attacked tankers in the waterway on 13 July, Washington resumed air strikes against Iran and reinstated its naval blockade of the country’s ports.
Tehran responded with attacks on US military facilities and bases across the Middle East, killing four American soldiers. The US strikes have since killed dozens of people, according to Iran's health ministry.
Key Facts
- Trump said on Monday that “good talks” were taking place and that there was “a good chance that something could happen.”
- US strikes on Iran were paused on Friday after mediators asked for more time for negotiations.
- The lull came after nearly two weeks of daily strikes and retaliatory attacks that had effectively unravelled the June ceasefire.
- Oil prices fell by more than 9% on Monday to $87.59 a barrel at one point.
- The US and Israel launched their strikes against Iran on 28 February, and Iran later retaliated with missile and drone attacks.
