It is possible to reach an agreement with Iran before the deadline expires

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that the United States is “conducting serious negotiations” with Iran, and that it is possible to reach an agreement before the deadline he set on Tuesday expires.

He added: “There is a good chance, but if they do not reach an agreement, I will destroy everything there.”

When asked by Axios whether he feared harm to Iranian civilians, Trump said he believed civilians opposed to their government would support such strikes to weaken the regime. He added: “They live in fear. They fear that we will withdraw in the midst of war, but we will not withdraw.”

In an 8-minute phone call, Trump told Axios that his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were conducting intense negotiations with the Iranians.

Two sources familiar with the negotiations reported that the talks are taking place through Pakistani, Egyptian and Turkish mediators, in addition to text messages exchanged between Trump’s advisors and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Trump said: “The negotiations are going well, but you are not reaching a final agreement with the Iranians.”

He confirmed that the United States and Iran were on the verge of reaching an agreement a few days ago to conduct direct negotiations.

Trump said: “They said they would meet with us in 5 days, so I said: ‘Why 5 days?’ I felt they were not serious. So I attacked the bridge,” referring to the strike that targeted a bridge linking Tehran to northern Iran on Wednesday.