Iran FM Says 'No Tangible Progress' In Talks But Trump Says Deal Close

 

Kuwait City : Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that "no tangible progress" has been made in negotiations to end the Middle East war as fresh US and Iranian strikes strained a fragile ceasefire.

Kuwaiti officials said the renewed hostilities included an Iranian drone strike on a passenger terminal at Kuwait international airport that killed one person and wounded 63.

In contrast with the downbeat Iranian remarks, US President Donald Trump voiced optimism again, telling reporters at the White House "it could happen...over the weekend."

"I hear the negotiation itself is going very well actually," Trump said of the latest bid to end the US-Israeli war in the Middle East, which began February 28.

 

However, US lawmakers dealt a political blow to the Republican president Wednesday when the House of Representatives passed a resolution directing withdrawal of American troops from the Iran war.

The resolution, adopted with four Republican members joining the Democrats, was largely symbolic, as the US president can veto the measure if it gains Senate approval.

 

"This is a loud and unambiguous message to Donald Trump on behalf of the American people: it’s time to end his deeply unpopular and illegal war of choice in Iran,” Democrats posted on X.

At a congressional hearing, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles were at the center of discussions with Tehran.

Washington insists Tehran must turn over its near-weapons-grade enriched uranium, agree to curb its nuclear activities and re-open the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping channel for Gulf oil and gas, for any peace agreement to take hold.