U.S. President Donald Trump on the 9th (local time) said of the Iran issue, "We are low keying it," adding, "It's like a chess game." "Low key" means a restrained or cautious stance.
According to the U.S. online outlet Axios that day, Trump said this in a call with the outlet, saying, "We are only semi-negotiating with them."
Trump also said, "We are just watching Iran's situation, suffering from massive inflation and lacking money," saying Iran is in a "very difficult situation" economically.
He further claimed that Iran has no funds to pay its soldiers and that the U.S. maritime blockade against Iran has worsened the regime's economic crisis.
It also appeared that Trump said U.S. consumers are feeling less of a burden from war as crude prices have fallen to just over $75 per barrel.
On negotiations with Iran, Trump said, "It will be resolved well," adding, "It always tends to be resolved well. This is like a chess game."
Trump did not mention any new U.S. military threats against Iran in the call that day.
Axios also reported that he did not express anger or frustration over Iran delaying the announcement of an agreement with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Axios reported, "Even though Iran continues to reject U.S. demands, Trump suggested he is prepared to intensify economic pressure on Iran rather than order a new military strike."
Earlier, on the night of the 1st, Trump said he had canceled a massive attack on Iran at the request of a Middle Eastern country and urged a swift agreement to reopen the Hormuz Strait.
Since then, there were observations that negotiations between Iran and Oman over reopening the Strait of Hormuz were nearing agreement, but the prospects for a deal have again become uncertain as Iran recently presented new conditions to the United States.
Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary-general of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the previous day issued a statement setting out six demands as conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including lifting the U.S. maritime blockade against Iran, withdrawing forces from areas around Iran, and compensating for war damage. It is a tougher stance than the previously agreed memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war between the United States and Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met reporters in Tehran that day and said that mediators are working to lay the groundwork for talks, but added, "There is no possibility of negotiations resuming until the United States stops violating the MOU and compensates for the violations."
Trump's remarks that day are seen as signaling an intention to watch the situation for the time being, leaving room for negotiations open for now despite Iran's hard-line additional demands.