Trump Says Iran Has Been Close To A Deal '4 Or 5 Times'

RFE
16 May 2026, 12:30 GMT+10

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09:34

Trump Says Iran Has Been Close To A Deal '4 Or 5 Times'

US President Donald Trump said that Iran has come close to reaching a full agreement with the United States "four or five times" but repeatedly reversed course at the last minute.

"Every time they agree, the next day it's like we didn't even talk," Trump told Fox News on May 15. "And this has happened four or five times. There's something wrong with them. Honestly, they're crazy."

He added: "And because they're crazy, they can't have a nuclear weapon."

Trump also claimed Iran had previously agreed to hand over its enriched uranium stockpile during negotiations with the United States.

"No nukes," Trump said. "They were going to give us the nuclear dust. Whatever we wanted."

In another appearance, Trump said: "Iran told me very strongly...they intend to give us the nuclear dust, as I call it," referring to enriched uranium allegedly buried at bombed nuclear sites.

He also said Iranian officials had told the United States: "You will have to take it out. We don't have the capability of doing it."

Trump made similar comments to reporters before departing for China, saying Iran had at one point agreed to surrender enriched nuclear material as part of a broader settlement.

Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Arqchi, have denied accepting US conditions.

"The issue of enrichment is complicated, and in order to reach a conclusion with the American side, we proposed that this discussion be postponed," Araqchi said on May 15.

Trump also told Fox News in the interview that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed with him that the war should end.

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02:43

We are now closing the live blog for the day. We'll be back at 7:30 a.m. Central European time to cover the latest events across the Middle East.

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02:14

Amid Disagreements Over Iran War, BRICS End Summit Without Joint Statement

Foreign ministers of the BRICS countries and invited guests pose during their summit in Delhi.

Top diplomats from BRICS grouping of nations -- including bitter enemies Iran and the United Arab Emirates -- did not issue a joint statement on May 15 after a two-day summit in Delhi.

Tehran had sought to have the grouping of emerging economies condemn the US-Israeli war with Iran and accused the UAE, a US ally, of direct involvement in military operations against the Islamic republic.

"There were differing views among some members as regards the situation in the West Asia/Middle East region," India said in a statement and outcome document.

BRICS consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and the UAE.

Tehran has launched missiles and drones at the UAE in retaliation for the US-Israeli air strikes that began on February 28. The fighting is mostly paused with the introduction of a cease-fire agreed to by the US and Tehran.

The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, on May 11 reported that the UAE had carried out military operations on Iran in early April.

The UAE did not confirm the report, but on May 16 it said all actions taken came within its framework of defensive measures aimed at protecting its sovereignty, civilians, and vital infrastructure.

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01:58

Despite Cease-Fire Extension, Deaths Reported In Lebanon Air Strike

At least six people were killed in a suspected Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's state news agency NNA, just hours after the US announced that a cease-fire in the country had been extended for 45 days.

NNA on May 15 said the attack targeted a civil defense center in the Nabatieh district. It added that 22 people were wounded.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

Washington earlier announced that the current cease-fire between Israel and the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia would be extended by 45 days. The cease-fire has been fragile since it was first announced on April 16, with both sides claiming that the other had violated the truce.

A militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by the US, while the EU has blacklisted its armed wing but not its political branch.

Authorities in Lebanese say some 2,900 people have been killed since fighting resumed in early March, including about 200 children.

With reporting by dpa

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23:44

15.5.2026

China Says Content, Timing 'Not Right' On US-Backed UN Hormuz Resolution

China's ambassador to the UN on May 15 criticized a proposed US-Bahraini resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, that would have demanded that Iran cease attacks and mining in the crucial waterway.

Diplomats have said it is likely to meet vetoes by Russia and China if it comes to a vote. Both countries vetoed a similar US-backed resolution in April, claiming it was biased against Iran.

"We don't think the content is right, and the timing is not right," China's UN envoy,

Fu Cong, China's UN ambassador.

, said in a video clip posted by the Pass Blue news portal, which focuses on UN news.

"What we need is to urge both sides to engage in serious and good-faith negotiations that can resolve the issue. So passing a resolution at this stage, we don't think is going to be helpful," he said.

The remarks came after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in which they agreed that the strait must remain open. Xi made clear China's opposition to the militarization of the waterway and any effort to charge a toll for its use.

In retaliation for US-Israeli air strikes -- now paused as part of a cease-fire -- Tehran effectively closed the strait and has said it will begin charging tolls through the international waterway, through which some 20 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies transit.

With reporting by Reuters

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20:37

15.5.2026

US State Department: 'Israel And Lebanon Agreed Cease-Fire Extension'

The US State Department said on May 15 that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of a cease-fire to "enable further progress" and announced US-mediated follow-up talks laterthis month and in June.

"We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each others sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border," State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott wrote on X.

Israel has been launching strikes targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon since March 2, two days after the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, when Hezbollah forces opened fire in support of Tehran.

Hezbollah is a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.

A truce in place since April 17 has reduced fighting between Israel and Hezbollah but has not stopped it; hundreds of people have been killed in strikes since then and each side has accused the other of numerous violations.

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19:56

15.5.2026

UAE Rejects Tehran's 'Attempts To Justify' Its 'Terrorist Attacks'

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) rejected what it called Tehrans attempts to justify its attacks on Gulf countries after Iran accused Abu Dhabi of being an active partner in the US military campaign.

In a statement released on May 15, the UAEs Minister of State Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar affirmed the country's "categorical rejection of Iranian claims and attempts to justify Iranian terrorist attacks.

"The UAE reserves all its sovereign, legal, diplomatic, and military rights to confront any threat, claim, or hostile act," Marar said. "It reserves its full and legitimate right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity to ensure the protection of its citizens, residents, and visitors."

A day earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi wrote on Telegram that the UAE has been "an active partner" in what he called "US aggression."

In a separate statement cited by Iranian media, Araqchi said he had advised the representative of the UAE that [Israel] and the United States cannot guarantee their security and pointed to the consequences of the Iranian air strikes on US military bases in the countrys territory.

The UAE said it has been subjected to about 3,000 missile and drone attacks since the beginning of the joint US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28.

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18:03

15.5.2026

Pakistan Says 20 Iranians From Vessels Seized By US Being Repatriated

Twenty Iranians and 11 Pakistanis who were aboard vessels seized in the high seas by the United States are being repatriated, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in apost on Xon May 15.

All 31 are in good health and high spirits, Dar said, adding that they had reached Bangkok from Singapore and boarded a flight to Islamabad. The Iranians will then be facilitated to return to their homeland.

Dar thanked the governments of Singapore, Thailand, and the United States, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, for their support in the operation.

The United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran in mid-April, about six weeks after the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28.

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16:40

15.5.2026

Trump Says He Would Accept Iran Suspending Enrichment For 20 Years

President Donald Trump has signaled he would be agreeable to Iran suspending its nuclear program for 20 years.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One shortly after leaving Beijing, Trump said 20 years is enough but...its got to be a real 20 years.

Tehrans reluctance to accept a suspension -- or complete cessation -- of its uranium enrichment program continues to be the central sticking point between Iran and the United States.

For much of the past year, the Trump administration demanded that Iran permanently renounce domestic uranium enrichment. Iran countered by offering a temporary suspension, including a five-year freeze during recent talks.

In April, during peace talks in Pakistan, the US appeared to soften its position, proposing that Iran agree to halt enrichment for 20 years.

According to The Wall Street Journal,Trumps comments on May 15 mark his clearest signal yet that he could accept a time-limited suspension of Irans nuclear program.

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13:53

15.5.2026

Iranian Foreign Minister Says US Seeking Continued Talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on May 15 said Tehran had received messages from the United States indicating that the Trump administration is seeking continued talks aimed at ending the Middle East war.

The US has not confirmed Araqchi's claim.

Speaking in New Delhi at a press conference at the BRICS summit, Araqchi said: "We received messages again from the Americans that they were willing to continue negotiations and continue engagement."

In recent days, US President Donald Trump called Iran's latest peace proposal "stupid" and "totally unacceptable."

Araqchi said that Iran is ready for both a return to military conflict and diplomatic solutions. He went on to add that the Pakistani mediation process has not failed but is facing difficulties.

The Iranian foreign minister did not provide any further details about the alleged US offer of talks nor his claim that the mediation process was facing difficulties.

Araqchi also said that the issue of Iran's uranium enrichment is "complicated and we have proposed postponing this discussion in order to reach a conclusion with the American side."

As part of any potential peace deal, the Trump administration insists Iran agrees to a long-term suspension or outright halt of uranium enrichment.