Trump Hopes for Iran Deal As Attack Preparations Ramp Up

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism for a potential deal with Iran to avert military action, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One overnight between Saturday and Sunday (Israel time). Against the backdrop of U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, Trump said: "The Iranians are negotiating seriously. If we can reach a deal that includes giving up nuclear weapons, that would be good."

Trump addressed reports quoting Saudi Arabia's foreign minister in closed talks, who warned that failing to act would strengthen the Iranian regime. "Some people say that, some don't," Trump responded. "Iran is conducting serious talks."

This comes as Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, announced Saturday night that a basis for U.S.-Iran negotiations is emerging.

Meanwhile, a series of mysterious explosions rocked Iran yesterday. Six people were killed and about 16 injured in two blasts in the south near the Iraq border. One explosion in Bandar Abbas port killed a girl and injured 14 others. Shortly after, another in Ahvaz killed five and injured two. A third blast occurred in Qom.

Israel denied involvement, with a security source telling Kan News: "We're monitoring, it's not ours and not from us. We also don't know of an American strike; the source is unclear." Reuters reported no Israeli link.

Iranian authorities attributed the explosions to bursting gas balloons and denied social media claims that the Bandar Abbas blast killed the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' navy.