United States President Donald Trump on Thursday chaired a cabinet meeting that largely focused on the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. During the discussion, Trump claimed that Iran was eager to strike a deal with the US, contradicting statements made by senior leaders in Tehran. He firmly stated, “They’re begging to make a deal, not me,” and added that he wanted to “set the record straight”. His remarks suggested that the US was not the side pushing for a ceasefire, as reported by the Associated Press.

Trump also acknowledged that communication between the two sides was ongoing. “Anybody would know they’re talking,” he said, while describing Iranian leaders as “great negotiators.” At the same time, he criticised them, saying, “They’re not fools, they’re very smart actually in a certain way….I say they’re lousy fighters but they’re great negotiators.” His comments reflected a mix of criticism and recognition of Iran’s diplomatic abilities.

The US President further pressed Iran to take what he described as an opportunity to reach an agreement. He warned that failure to do so would lead to continued military action by the US. “They now have the chance, that is Iran, to permanently abandon their nuclear ambitions and to join a new path forward,” he said, according to Reuters. He added a strong warning, “We'll see if they want to do it. If they don't, we're their worst nightmare. In the meantime, we'll just keep blowing them away.”

Earlier the same day, Trump made another claim involving the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He said that Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the route as a “present”, indicating goodwill amid the tensions. This followed his earlier statement in the week, where he described a similar move by Iran as a “gift” related to energy flow in the region. According to him, eight “big boats of oil” were first allowed to pass, followed by two more tankers later.

These statements come at a time of heightened uncertainty over possible negotiations and the broader conflict in the region. While Trump has portrayed Iran as willing to engage, officials in Tehran have maintained a different stance, highlighting the ongoing gap between the two sides.