US President Donald Trump on Thursday said Iranian authorities had been in contact to express their desire to pursue peace and to strongly back a deal he reached aimed at winding down the war in Gaza.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting in the White House, Trump said he hoped a resolution to the lingering impasse over Iran's nuclear program could unleash support for Iran to rebuild after US-Israeli attacks in June but Iran could not gain nuclear arms.
"I think the attack was very important on Iran, because let's say that didn't happen, they'd probably, by now, have a nuclear weapon, numerous nuclear weapons, and therefore, even if we signed a deal, there'd be a big dark cloud over it, and it wouldn't be the same thing."
US planes and submarine-launched missiles attacked three key Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, capping off a surprise Israeli military campaign against the Islamic Republic which battered its arch-foe. Trump imposed a ceasefire two days later.
"So Iran is different, but Iran wants to work on peace now they've informed us, and they acknowledge that they are totally in favor of this deal. They think it's a great thing. So we appreciate that, and we'll work with Iran," Trump added.
"As you know, we have major sanctions on Iran and lots of other things. Who would like to see them be able to rebuild their country too, but they can't have a nuclear weapon."
'Palestinians' fundamental rights'
Iran has been more measured in its public response, voicing general support in a statement on Thursday for a resolution to the two-year-old conflict in Gaza.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported any initiative that entails ending the genocidal war, the withdrawal of occupying forces, the entry of humanitarian aid, the release of Palestinian prisoners and the realization of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people," the foreign ministry said.
A standoff over Iran's nuclear activities continues even after Trump has repeatedly asserted the June attacks "obliterated" the program.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said this week that several rounds of indirect talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff brought a deal within reach in late May, but that Iran would not relinquish what it sees as its right to enrich uranium.
"There is NO solution but a negotiated outcome,” he wrote on X.
