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U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington was continuing talks with Iran and claimed the U.S. was making progress in its dealings with Tehran, as Qatar said mediation efforts between the two sides remained active.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for Florida, Trump was asked what message he had for Iran.
“We beat Iran. We are doing very well with Iran, we’re talking to Iran,” Trump said.
He added that the two sides had been in contact “for a while.”
Trump also said no U.S. soldiers had been killed in the past six or seven months and claimed progress had been made in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for oil shipments.
“We have the Hormuz Strait opening, doing more business than they’ve ever done with oil ... and we are talking to Iran,” he said.
Trump had said after the Nov. 3 midterm elections that Republican losses to Democrats were largely driven by what he called the “Iran war” and the related rise in the cost of living.
On Friday, however, he again described contacts with Tehran as moving positively.
“We are doing very well and we are talking to them,” Trump said.
Separately, Qatar rejected reports claiming Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had said the U.S. and Iran failed to reach an agreement.
Qatar’s International Media Office said reports circulating on social media were false and misleading.
It said Al Thani’s remarks had been deliberately distorted by actors seeking to benefit from continued war and instability in the region.
The statement also said many of the claims had been spread by fake accounts seeking to undermine diplomatic efforts and escalate tensions.
Qatar said Al Thani had instead stated that the U.S. and Iran were continuing to work toward an agreement.
Qatari mediators also remain in close coordination with both Washington and Tehran to support the ongoing negotiations, the statement said.
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