Trump says U.S., Iran closer to deal, warns of 'hard blow' if talks fail

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Iran are nearing an agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East. In a television interview, Trump cautioned that failure to reach a deal would result in unprecedented repercussions for Iran. Simultaneously, Iranian officials reported progress on a 14-point framework agreement with the U.S., though they suggested significant differences remain.

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moving much closer

Trump's optimism varied between interviews. He previously told Axios that the chances of a deal were "50/50." In that same interview, he also threatened to "blow them to smithereens" if an agreement was not achieved, according to Axios.

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we will face a situation where no country has ever suffered as hard a blow as they will suffer

Both media outlets also reported that Trump planned to speak with Persian Gulf leaders by phone later that day. The President's statements come as international tensions remain high in the region.

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definitely 50/50