Trump says agreement with Iran within reach

US President Donald Trump has said Washington and Tehran are set to hold talks later on Monday, expressing confidence that an agreement on both the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program is close despite fresh reports of a suspected attack on a vessel off the coast of Oman.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump made it clear that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and, according to him, Iran itself had urged the United States to postpone large-scale strikes against the Islamic Republic, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Guardian.

The US president claimed on social media that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked for time to complete a deal ⁠that would lead to “the immediate, complete and total” reopening of the strait and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat”. Trump added that Tehran must “rapidly make a deal”.

The US president declined to comment on reports suggesting that American troops could be withdrawn from Kuwait and Bahrain.

Hours after Trump's announcement of the planned talks, reports emerged that Iranian forces had allegedly attacked another vessel near the coast of Oman.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported hearing explosions in the immediate vicinity of a vessel approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman.

According to the agency, no casualties or damage to the vessel were reported, and an investigation into the incident is underway.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov