Iran: Trump says strikes unlikely if peace talks keep moving

After weeks of rumors that the US and Israel were preparing new strikes on Iran, President Donald Trump said it was "highly unlikely" that he would order a new escalation as the Iranians "want to make a deal so badly." In an interview with US broadcaster CNN, President Donald Trump sought to downplay fears that the US is about to relaunch its military campaign against Iran . "It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement," he told CNN on Sunday.

"The answer is highly unlikely it's going to be necessary." At the same time, Trump restated that the US military was "ready" to launch a new round of strikes and could "finish [Iran] off." However, Trump also repeated several times that the new escalation is "highly unlikely," saying that Iran was a "failing nation" and "withering away financially" after eight months of hostilities. Trump ordered an attack on Iran in late February, after US ally Israel launched what it called a "preemptive strike" on its biggest regional rival.