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US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has has said that a deal is close with Iran that would avert a military strike on the country’s contested nuclear sites.
“We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” Trump said in Qatar, the second stop of his multi-day Gulf tour.
“I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this.”
Oil prices immediately dropped after the comments by Trump, who said he was basing his optimism on new statements by Iran.
The president did not specify which statements he was referring to, but an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Shamkhani, had said in a US media interview that Tehran was willing to accept far-reaching curbs on its nuclear programme.
“You probably read today the story about Iran. It’s sort of agreed to the terms,” Trump said.
Shamkhani told ABC News that Iran would give up stockpiles of highly enriched uranium as part of a deal in which the United States lifts sanctions.
Trump said that Iran should “say a big thank you” to Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who had pressed the US leader to avoid military action against his country’s giant neighbour.
“Iran is very lucky to have the emir because he’s actually fighting for them. He doesn’t want us to do a vicious blow to Iran,” Trump said.
Trump has pursued diplomacy with Iran as he seeks to stave off a threatened military strike by Israel on Tehran’s contested nuclear programme.
Need more clarity and context on what is happening in the Middle East? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online.
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