US President Donald Trump on 9 May said he expects to receive a message from Iran that evening as questions persist over the pace of nuclear negotiations, while also expressing hope that a brief Russia-Ukraine ceasefire could be extended beyond its current duration.

Iran Nuclear Talks: A Message Expected

Speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One on the White House South Lawn, Trump said: "I'm getting a letter supposedly tonight. So we'll see how that goes." When pressed on whether Tehran was deliberately slowing the negotiation process, he offered a measured response: "We'll find out soon enough."

The President signalled that Washington could escalate its approach if talks falter. "We'll go a different route if everything doesn't get signed up, buttoned up," he said, adding: "We may go back to Project Freedom if things don't happen, but it'll be Project Freedom Plus. Meaning Project Freedom plus other things." The remarks suggest the administration is keeping a harder line in reserve should diplomacy stall.

Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire: Hope for an Extension

On the ongoing war in Ukraine, Trump described the conflict as "the worst thing since World War II" and said he would welcome any extension of the current limited ceasefire. Asked whether the pause in fighting could last longer than three days, he said: "Could be. It'd be nice. I'd like to see it stopped." The comments reflect the administration's continued interest in positioning itself as a potential peace broker, even as the ceasefire remains fragile and its scope limited.

Domestic Economy and Public Health Remarks

Trump also pointed to what he described as strong domestic economic indicators, saying: "We have more people working today than we ever had working in this country. The job numbers today were incredible." Separately, he sought to reassure the public on concerns around hantavirus cases, noting that officials were closely monitoring the situation. "We seem to have things under very good control. They know that virus very well — it's been around a long time. Not easily transferrable, unlike covid. We'll see. We're studying it very closely," he said.

Other Engagements and Remarks

On international engagements, Trump said he had a "great meeting" with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, without offering further details. When asked about reports involving Dr Marty Makary, Trump said: "I've been reading about it, but I know nothing about it." On political developments in the United Kingdom, he declined to comment in detail, saying: "I sorta leave that to them, but I'm happy about everything."

With Iran's response expected imminently and the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire's durability in question, the next several days could prove pivotal for both diplomatic tracks.