Trump says US-Iran talks are making progress

U.S. President Donald Trump said indirect talks between Washington and Tehran are progressing through Pakistani intermediaries, raising the prospect of a diplomatic opening even as military tensions remain high across the Gulf.

Trump told the Financial Times that an agreement with Iran “could happen soon,” suggesting momentum in backchannel contacts aimed at reducing hostilities. His remarks come after days of mixed signals, with Washington publicly threatening escalation while also pointing to possible diplomacy.

He also said the number of Pakistan-flagged oil tankers permitted by Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz had doubled to 20, describing the move as a sign that Tehran may be willing to make limited concessions during negotiations. Pakistani media and earlier reporting have also described the tanker approvals as part of a broader de-escalatory gesture.

Trump said Iranian officials had expanded the shipping permissions after what he portrayed as indirect exchanges over a possible settlement. The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the crisis, with selective passage of commercial vessels increasingly seen as both a security issue and a diplomatic bargaining tool.

But Trump’s comments were also paired with renewed threats. In the same interview, he repeated that the United States could seek control of Iran’s oil resources and again raised the possibility of targeting Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, while acknowledging such a move could draw the U.S. into a prolonged military presence.

The latest remarks reflect a wider pattern in the current crisis; pressure and diplomacy moving in parallel. Washington has publicly kept military options on the table while relying on intermediaries, including Pakistan and regional actors, to test whether a limited framework for de-escalation is possible.

The broader regional environment remains volatile. Oil markets, maritime insurers and Gulf governments are watching closely as even small changes in Hormuz traffic can affect energy prices, shipping risk and regional security calculations.

For now, Trump’s comments suggest that while the threat of confrontation remains real, both sides may still be leaving room for a negotiated off-ramp. Whether those indirect contacts produce a formal breakthrough, however, remains uncertain.

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