Trump says he has ‘good news’ on Iran

US President Donald Trump said there had been "some pretty good news" about Iran, suggesting optimism about peace talks to end the war in the Middle East, but he said a ceasefire in the conflict ‌may not be extended without a deal by Wednesday.

Iran hours earlier had temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz following a separate US-brokered ceasefire agreement by Israel and Lebanon. But subsequent statements from both sides left ​uncertainty over how quickly shipping ⁠might return to normal through the global oil choke point.

Trump, speaking on Air Force One late on Friday, declined to elaborate on what the good news was.

"It seems to be going ‌very well in the Middle East with Iran," he told reporters while returning to Washington from Phoenix, Arizona. "We're negotiating over the weekend. I expect things to go well. Many of these things have been negotiated and agreed to.

"The main thing is that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. You cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, and that supersedes everything else."

But in sharp contrast, he said he may end the ceasefire with Iran unless a long-term deal to end the war ‌is agreed before it expires on Wednesday, adding that a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would continue.

The war with Iran, which began on February 28 with a US-Israeli attack, has killed thousands and sent oil prices surging because ⁠of the de facto closure of the strait, which until recently carried about a fifth of the world's oil trade.

Trump has told Reuters there would probably be more direct talks between Iran and the US this weekend. Some diplomats said that was unlikely given the logistics of gathering in Islamabad, where the talks are expected to take place.

There were no signs of preparations early on Saturday for talks in the Pakistani capital, where the highest-level US-Iran negotiations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution ended without agreement last weekend.

The key Pakistani mediator, army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, has been holding talks in Tehran since Wednesday.

A Pakistani source aware of mediation efforts said a meeting between Iran and the US could produce an initial memorandum of understanding, followed by a comprehensive peace agreement within 60 days.

Among complicating factors, Iran's speaker of parliament and senior negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, posted on social media that the ​Strait of Hormuz "will not remain open" if the US blockade continued.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had announced on social media that the strait was open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ‌10-day truce that was agreed on Thursday by Israel and Lebanon, which was invaded by Israel after the Iran-allied Hizbollah group joined the fighting.

Vessel traffic data showed a group of around 20 ships, including container ships, bulk carriers and tankers, moving through the Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz on Friday evening, but most ended up turning back, although it was not clear why. The group included three container ships operated by French shipping group CMA CGM, which ⁠declined to comment.

A cruise ship that was stranded in Dubai, the Celestyal Discovery, however crossed the strait and was headed to Oman on Saturday morning, according to Marine Traffic vessel tracking data.

Reuters