Iran wants to talk and see if they can make an offer, says Trump

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters ⁠that Iran plans to make an offer aimed at ‌satisfying U.S. demands, as peace talks were expected to resume in Pakistan.

“They’re making an offer and we’ll have to see,” Trump said during a phone ​interview.

Trump said he did not know ⁠what the offer would be ⁠yet. He has been adamant that any deal includes Iran giving ⁠up ‌its enriched uranium and allowing freedom of oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff ⁠and Jared Kushner plan to depart on Saturday ​for the Pakistani ‌capital Islamabad for talks with an Iranian delegation.

Trump on ⁠Thursday had ​expressed concern about who was leading Iran, and U.S. officials have said they believe the leadership is fractured.

On Friday, when asked who ⁠the U.S. was negotiating with, Trump said: “I ​don’t want to say that, but we’re dealing with the people that are in charge now.”

He declined to provide names.

Reuters reported earlier ⁠that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was expected in Islamabad on Friday to discuss proposals for restarting peace talks with the U.S.

Trump has insisted the U.S. military will maintain a blockade ​against Iran’s ports until an agreement ⁠is reached.

When asked what is needed to lift the blockade, Trump ​said: “I’d have to be able to ‌answer that question later. I have ​to see what they’re offering.”