U.S. President Donald Trump said peace talks with Iran are proceeding smoothly and noted there is a possibility a memorandum of understanding (MOU) could be signed as early as this weekend.
Trump met with reporters at the White House on the 3rd (local time) after signing an executive order and said, "I heard the negotiations themselves are going very well." On the outlook for a peace agreement, he said, "A deal may not be reached, but if it is, it could happen this weekend."
Trump's remarks are seen as suggesting that the momentum for negotiations between the United States and Iran remains intact even after Iran's recent attack on Kuwait. Asked whether "the cease-fire agreement has effectively collapsed due to Iran's attack on Kuwait," Trump said, "Everything happens for a reason," adding, "We struck a significant blow first, and they responded to it." This appears to indicate an intention to continue the negotiating phase by assessing Iran's military action as retaliation for a U.S. strike rather than defining it as a breach of the cease-fire.
Trump also said that as soon as a peace MOU is signed, the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for Middle Eastern oil shipments, will reopen.
He also addressed the issue of handling Iran's highly enriched uranium (HEU), which has been cited as the biggest sticking point in the peace talks. In response to a related question, Trump said, "We will secure it."