Trump: "I think Iran is "for" direct negotiations"

Donald Trump has suggested that Iran may agree to direct talks with the United States despite the intensifying tensions and back-and-forth threats between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the US president appeared optimistic about the prospect of face-to-face diplomacy with Tehran.

“I think it’s better if we have direct talks,” he said. “I think it goes faster, and you understand the other side a lot better than if you go through intermediaries. They wanted to use intermediaries. I don’t think that’s necessarily true any more.”

Last month, Trump sent a letter to the Iranian leadership calling for negotiations to address Iran’s nuclear programme. The US president has also been regularly threatening Iran with military strikes.

Tehran has rejected the prospect of direct talks with Washington but said it is open to indirect diplomacy.

Trump also said, "Forget about the letters," when a Fox news reporter asked him about the contents of the Iranian letter.