Trump: I want a deal with Iran. Sometimes you have to use force.

US President Donald Trump has stated that he wants to reach an agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme, but at the same time he has not ruled out the use of military force. ‘I would prefer not to use it, but sometimes you have to,’ he told reporters before leaving for Texas.

He said he was not satisfied with Tehran's position and reiterated that the United States did not want Iran to have nuclear weapons. According to him, Iran is not yet ‘saying the right words’ about giving up its nuclear programme.

The statements came a day after talks between US envoys and Iranian officials in Geneva ended without agreement. There is a significant US military presence in the region.

The White House chief announced that further discussions on Iran would take place on Friday, but did not provide further details. According to sources, the Omani foreign minister also travelled to Washington, as Oman acts as a mediator between the two countries.

According to Reuters, there is scepticism in the White House about whether the talks will yield results. Sources also stated that the president has a ‘clear overview of all the options’ available to him.

(reuters, max)