Iran war live: Trump and Netanyahu have ‘tense’ phone conversation over latest peace proposal

Donald Trump says talks with Iran were “in the final stages” while warning of further attacks if Tehran does not agree to a peace deal.

Six weeks after Trump called for a ceasefire by halting Operation Epic Fury, there has been little progress in talks to end the war. Trump said this week he came close to ordering more strikes but held off to allow time for negotiations.

“We’re in the final stages with Iran.

We’ll see what happens. E”We will either make a deal, or we will take some actions that may be undesirable but hopefully that won’t happen,” he told reporters. “Ideally I would like to see a few people die, rather than a lot of people. We can do it either way.”

Speaking later at the US Coast Guard Academy, Trump continued, “We may have to hit them very hard… but probably not” – and reiterated his determination not to allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.

Tehran, for its part, accused Trump of plotting to restart the war and threatened to respond to any attack with attacks beyond the Middle East. “If aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will extend beyond the region this time,” the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement.