President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that Iran has agreed to abandon its nuclear ambitions as peace negotiations progress, while the U.S. considers deploying additional troops to the region. Trump stated that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are leading talks with Iran, though Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed any agreement.
The U.S. has paused strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days to facilitate negotiations, though the White House has also signaled potential troop deployments. Trump said Iran's leadership has indicated it will not pursue nuclear weapons, but Tehran has rejected claims of active peace talks.
Trump revealed that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth opposed a diplomatic resolution, preferring continued military action. Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly urged Trump to escalate the conflict, calling it a 'historic opportunity' to reshape the region. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have expressed reluctance to engage in formal negotiations.
The U.S. is considering sending a delegation to Pakistan for potential talks, with Vance possibly playing a key role. However, Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, may refuse to meet unless Vance is present. The White House has denied that regime change is a goal, though Trump has used the term to describe recent leadership shifts in Iran.