President Donald Trump claims the United States has been holding talks with a “respected” Iranian leader.
Watch Trump’s remarks to reporters in the video player above.
Trump told reporters Monday his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner conducted talks Sunday into the evening.
He said talks would continue today.
Trump did not name any official or officials representing Tehran. Trump said the U.S. has not talked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Trump said if a deal is reached with Iran, the U.S. will move to take Iran’s enriched uranium critical to its disputed nuclear program.
More from Trump on Iran’s nuclear program
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said the U.S. would retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium as part of a potential agreement with the Islamic Republic.
“It’s very easy, if we have a deal with them, we’re going down and we’ll take it ourselves,” Trump said as he departed from a weekend in Florida.
Trump said any deal with Iran would include ending the country’s nuclear capabilities.
“We want to see, no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon. Not even close to it,” he said.
Trump stresses that he believes Iran wants a deal ‘very badly’
“All I’m saying is, we are in the throes of a real possibility of making a deal,” Trump said as he wrapped his extended exchange with reporters before boarding Air Force One.
WATCH: As attacks on oil sites continue, Trump dismisses ceasefire, says Iran is ‘finished’
“And I think, if I were a betting man I’d bet for it. But again, I’m not guaranteeing anything,” he said.
Iranian official denies negotiations with the U.S.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf denied Monday that Iran is negotiating with the United States to end the war, adding that “fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.”
Trump announced on social media before U.S. markets opened Monday that the U.S. is currently holding negotiations with Iran, and that Iran wants to reach a deal to end the war as it enters its fourth week.
