President Donald Trump revealed on 15 July that Iranian representatives contacted the United States approximately one hour before his Fox News interview, signalling that Tehran was seeking a negotiated agreement — even as American military strikes entered their third consecutive night. The disclosure, made during a White House interview, adds a dramatic diplomatic dimension to an ongoing military confrontation.

The Iranian Outreach

Trump confirmed that it was not he personally, but his representatives, who received the latest Iranian communication. “I have spoken to them, but my representatives over the course of, well, actually, an hour ago,” he said. When asked what message Tehran had conveyed, Trump was blunt: “They wanna make a deal.”

The contact came even as US strikes continued, underscoring the parallel-track nature of the crisis — military pressure on one front, back-channel diplomacy on another. This pattern, analysts note, mirrors earlier phases of the Iran nuclear standoff under previous administrations.

A Deal That Collapsed at the Last Moment

Trump revealed that the two sides had been on the verge of an agreement just days before the latest escalation. “Literally two days ago, we had a deal and then they broke it at the last moment,” he said. “They broke it.”

He accused Tehran of a pattern of abandoning commitments. “Every time they make a deal, they break it,” Trump said. This is not the first time the US has accused Iran of withdrawing from a near-finalised arrangement — similar breakdowns were reported during earlier rounds of nuclear talks.

Trump Rules Out Immediate Negotiations

Despite the Iranian outreach, Trump said he was no longer willing to negotiate immediately. “Well, now we, I don’t wanna negotiate now,” he said, adding, “I said, ‘Let’s not negotiate.’ Three days ago, we had a deal.”

The shift in posture suggests Washington is using sustained military pressure as a coercive tool to extract better terms, rather than returning to the table on Tehran’s timeline.

Nuclear Weapon the Red Line

Trump was unambiguous about his core objective: preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. “There will be no nuclear weapon,” he declared, describing it as “by far, the most important” of his stated goals in the confrontation.

He also articulated his negotiating philosophy: “The only way you can negotiate with these people is through strength. And the only strength is military strength.” At the same time, Trump said the US was “being very careful with the civilian population.”

What Happens Next

Trump said he believed Iran ultimately had “no choice” but to return to the negotiating table as military pressure mounted. “I don’t know if they will or not,” he said when asked whether Iran would accept an agreement, but he added, “They should.”

Whether the latest Iranian contact translates into a formal resumption of talks remains uncertain. The coming days will test whether back-channel communications can survive a third — and potentially fourth — night of strikes.