U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes a breakthrough in US-Iran talks could be possible as early as this weekend, expressing optimism about the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump told reporters that negotiations were progressing well and suggested a potential agreement could emerge within days. He also said he wanted to keep discussions on Lebanon separate from broader negotiations involving Iran, arguing that the issues should be handled independently.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains a central issue in the talks. Washington is seeking commitments from Tehran to limit its nuclear activities, surrender near-weapons-grade uranium, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of any future agreement.
Despite the positive signals from Washington, Iran has taken a more cautious stance. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said communication channels with the United States remain open but stressed that no significant progress has been achieved so far. He warned that any Israeli attack on Beirut could trigger a full-scale return to conflict.
The diplomatic efforts come as fresh violence threatens a fragile ceasefire in the region. Kuwaiti authorities reported that a drone strike on Kuwait International Airport killed one person and injured dozens more. Iran denied responsibility and claimed the incident resulted from a malfunction involving American defense systems.
The latest escalation has raised concerns about the future of the ceasefire established in April after weeks of fighting involving the United States, Israel and Iran. While exchanges of fire have continued, Trump downplayed the renewed hostilities and maintained that diplomatic efforts remain on track.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of “playing with fire” and warned that military action could resume if tensions continue to rise.
Kuwait temporarily suspended airport operations following the drone attack before later restoring flights. Residents near the airport described a night of explosions and uncertainty, highlighting the continuing instability across the region.