Trump Says US-Iran Talks Have ‘Momentum’ for Deal, Warns of Further Strikes if Necessary

WASHINGTON, Sept 23 — US President Donald Trump stated that diplomatic talks with Iran have gained significant momentum and could yield an agreement, while warning that the United States remains prepared to conduct additional military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites if required.

Trump delivered the remarks during a multilateral meeting with leaders from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and Turkiye on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“It’s an honour to be here with some of America’s greatest and closest friends, allies, and partners to continue our effort toward a safer and more prosperous Middle East,” Trump said.

He confirmed that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a “productive meeting” with international mediators engaged in diplomacy with Tehran.

“I think there’s a lot of momentum for them to make a deal. That’s what we are hearing from everybody,” Trump stated.

Reiterating Washington’s objective to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability, Trump claimed that key Iranian nuclear sites had already been destroyed. However, he issued a direct warning regarding an underground facility referred to as Pickaxe Mountain.

“We may have to blow up another one, Pickaxe Mountain,” Trump said. “We’re not seeing a lot of activity there, but if we do, we’ll blow it up immediately.”

Addressing maritime security and energy supply, Trump noted that oil shipments moving through the strategic Strait of Hormuz have increased substantially since hostilities began. He suggested the wider conflict with Iran could reach a conclusion surrounding the upcoming US midterm elections in November or potentially earlier.

“We think that the situation with Iran could end right after the midterm elections and maybe before. I don’t know. You never know,” he added. “Look, it’s going to go one way or the other. It’s either going to — we’re going to make a deal, or it’s going to end very, very quickly.”

Reflecting on regional diplomacy, Trump recalled a similar gathering on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly the previous year aimed at resolving the conflict in the Gaza Strip. He singled out Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the meeting, praising his diplomatic role.

“He’s a tough cookie. Don’t mess around with him,” Trump said of Erdogan. “He’s fantastic. Fantastic guy, right, my friend.”

Following the session, Erdogan told reporters outside UN headquarters that representatives from eight nations had convened.

“We are striving to overcome the difficulties in the Gulf. We want to see the fruits of our efforts as soon as possible,” Erdogan stated.

–NMT