Trump’s latest Iran war prediction: US in ‘final throes’ of ‘very good strong, powerful deal’

Trump States Negotiations with Iran Near Conclusion on Nuclear Restrictions and Hormuz Access

President Donald Trump said on June 8 that the United States is close to completing an agreement with Iran that would prevent nuclear weapons development and reopen the Strait of Hormuz shortly after signing. He described the prospective accord as “a very, very good deal that will not allow in any way, shape, or form nuclear weapons” and indicated it could be finalized in two or three days.

Speaking to reporters at John F. Kennedy International Airport after attending game three of the NBA Finals, Trump stated there were no remaining sticking points. When asked whether he expected to sign a peace agreement within that timeframe, he replied that the two sides had “a good chance of doing it” and were “very close to having a very, very, good, strong, powerful deal.”

Earlier the same evening, during a remote appearance at a South Carolina event supporting Sen. Lindsey Graham and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Trump said negotiations were underway and that Iranian representatives had expressed willingness to accept terms that included a prohibition on nuclear weapons. He projected that a declaration of total victory could occur within two weeks.

Trump’s Reported Call to Netanyahu

Axios correspondent Barak Ravid reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been preparing to authorize a large-scale strike on Iranian targets when he received a telephone call from Trump. According to the account, Trump told Netanyahu to exercise caution or risk losing U.S. support. Netanyahu subsequently directed his military commanders to cancel the planned strikes.

Ravid wrote that Trump indicated he would either secure an agreement with Iran that would render the strikes unnecessary or, if no agreement materialized, consider leading strikes himself. Trump later told reporters that he had advised Netanyahu to “do what’s right” but to stop operations quickly so that the matter could be resolved.

Trump also described the recent exchanges between Israel and Iran as having reached a pause, stating that the parties would “leave each other alone for another week or something.”

Trump’s Comments on Military Options and Blockade

Trump stated that while the United States possessed the capability to conduct additional bombing operations against Iran, such action would delay reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that bombing could destroy remaining Iranian military assets but would not produce an immediate reopening of the waterway. He contrasted this with a signed agreement, which he said would be stronger than bombing alone.

Trump further observed that the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports had exerted greater pressure on the Iranian government than the preceding 39 days of airstrikes conducted during Operation Epic Fury. He described the blockade as “much stronger than bombing.”

The earlier military operations were reported to have cost more than $30 billion, resulted in 14 U.S. fatalities, and reduced U.S. munitions inventories.

Iranian Statements on Negotiations

Iranian parliamentarian Ebrahim Azizi told CNN that Iranian officials did not view the United States as committed to a workable framework. Azizi said discussions were not currently addressing uranium enrichment, enriched materials, or other nuclear issues, and he cited the handling of blocked Iranian assets as an example of insufficient U.S. seriousness.

Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari stated that Iranian forces had carried out promised responses with speed and precision. The Institute for the Study of War assessed that Iran was seeking to use its capacity for continued drone and missile launches as leverage to obtain the release of approximately $24 billion in frozen oil revenues and assurances regarding Hezbollah operations in Lebanon.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said Israel would not accept Hezbollah dominance in Lebanon or continued attacks on northern Israeli communities. He stated that the United States and Israel shared the objective of preventing Iranian influence in the area.

U.S. Helicopter Incident

U.S. Central Command confirmed that an Army AH-64 Apache helicopter went down near the coast of Oman on June 8 while conducting patrol operations. The two crew members were rescued within approximately two hours by U.S. forces and were reported in stable condition. The cause remains under investigation. Trump had earlier told reporters that the pilots were uninjured.

Rescue operations involved U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the 82nd Airborne Division, and units from the U.S. Air Force and Navy, including elements of the 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59.

Additional Reporting Context

The article incorporates reporting from multiple outlets on related developments, including coverage of Israeli-Iranian exchanges, Lebanese political conditions, U.S. military logistics, and congressional actions concerning defense and trade policy. Statements attributed to officials from the United States, Israel, and Iran are presented as direct quotations or summaries of their public remarks. No independent verification of the prospective agreement’s terms or timeline has been provided by the Iranian side in the cited interviews.