Trump Says Iran Delay May Soon End as Washington Pushes for New Deal
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States was expecting Iran’s response to Washington’s latest proposal aimed at easing tensions and ending the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Speaking to reporters before leaving for a dinner event at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, Trump indicated that a reply from Tehran could arrive later in the evening.
“We’ll hear from them supposedly tonight,” Trump said when asked whether Iran had formally responded to the proposal.
Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was still waiting for Iran’s response and hoped it would mark the beginning of meaningful negotiations. Speaking to reporters in Rome during his visit to Italy and the Vatican, Rubio said no official communication had been received at the time.
He also suggested that political and administrative challenges inside Iran may be slowing down the process. According to Rubio, divisions within the Iranian system could be creating obstacles to quick decision-making.
Despite the uncertainty, the US administration remains hopeful that diplomatic channels will remain open and lead to further talks between the two sides.
Trump also hinted that Washington could reconsider a revised version of “Project Freedom,” a maritime security initiative linked to navigation through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The US president said the initiative could return in an expanded form if current diplomatic efforts fail to produce results. However, he added that the administration was also exploring alternative approaches to maintain regional stability and secure maritime routes.
The latest developments come amid heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia, with global attention focused on whether diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran can prevent further escalation in the region.
