US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 7 May said that Washington had made significant progress in negotiations with Iran and suggested a possible agreement could emerge in the near term, while reiterating that Tehran "cannot have a nuclear weapon." The remarks, made to reporters at the White House, came amid conflicting signals from the Iranian side over the state of diplomacy.

Trump's Remarks on the Talks

"They want to make a deal badly," Trump told reporters. "We've had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it's very possible that we'll make a deal."

Trump rejected suggestions that Iran had remained defiant in negotiations, pushing back against a reporter's framing. He also repeated his long-standing position on Tehran's nuclear ambitions: "They can't have nuclear weapons, it's very simple."

When asked whether he expected a deadline for a deal, Trump declined to set one. "Never a deadline," he said. "It'll happen."

Trump's Claims on Iran's Military Losses

The President made sweeping claims about the damage inflicted on Iran's military infrastructure during the conflict. He alleged that Iran's navy — which he said comprised 159 ships — had been destroyed, its air force grounded, and its anti-aircraft systems, radar capabilities, and missile stockpiles "mostly decimated."

"Their leaders are all dead. So, I think we won," Trump said.

He also argued that even if hostilities ceased immediately, Iran would require decades to recover. "If we left right now, Iran, it would take them 20 years to rebuild," he said. These claims could not be independently verified at the time of publication.

Economic Fallout and Market Claims

Trump also addressed concerns about the economic consequences of the conflict, saying US financial markets had remained resilient despite fears of a severe oil shock. "I thought oil prices would go to $200, $250," he said. "It's at $100 now."

He further claimed that US stock markets had reached new highs since the start of the conflict — a claim that markets analysts have not uniformly corroborated. Trump also mentioned discussions with executives from ExxonMobil and Chevron at the White House regarding renewed interest in Venezuela's energy sector.

Iran Pushes Back on Deal Reports

Iran's account of the diplomatic situation differed sharply from Trump's characterisation. Tehran said on Wednesday it had not exchanged any new written messages with Washington, pushing back against media reports suggesting the two sides were close to a one-page agreement to end hostilities.

The semi-official Fars news agency called recent media reports "fabricated," alleging they were designed to influence global markets and drive down oil prices rather than reflect ground realities. Citing two unnamed sources, Fars said Iran had not yet responded to the latest US message, which was reportedly delivered through Pakistan.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency, said Tehran was still reviewing the US proposal and would respond after completing its assessment.

What Comes Next

The divergence between Washington's optimism and Tehran's measured pushback underscores the fragility of the current diplomatic moment. With no deadline set and Iran yet to formally respond to the latest US message, the path to any agreement remains uncertain. How quickly — and whether — Tehran responds to the US proposal is likely to define the next phase of these negotiations.