Iran Launches Strikes as Trump Claims Progress in War Negotiations

Iranian missiles and drones continued to strike Israel, Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait on Tuesday even after President Trump claimed that the U.S. And Iran had launched “very, very strong talks” to end the war — a claim Tehran has denied.

“Iran’s powerful armed forces are proud, victorious and steadfast in defending Iran’s integrity, and this path will continue until complete victory,” a spokesman for Iran’s top military command told state television.

New Waves of Attacks

A new barrage of Iranian strikes on Tuesday showed the regime’s continued capability to inflict damage on its neighbors. Israeli authorities reported Iranian missiles hit Tel Aviv and other parts of the country, injuring six and damaging at least three residential buildings. A volley of six Iranian ballistic missiles killed six Kurdish fighters and wounded 30 others, according to the government of Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region. In Bahrain, an Iranian missile attack killed a Moroccan contractor working for the Emirati armed forces and injured five Emirati service members. Kuwait’s army reported multiple drone and missile attacks overnight.

Simultaneously, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for southern Lebanon, hours after Israel’s defense minister stated the country plans to control more territory there. According to the New York Times, the statement “suggested Israel was laying the groundwork to remain in large parts of Lebanon.”

Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon, have flared intermittently since 1982, with the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023 leading to another round of fighting. A ceasefire had been in place since November 2024, but Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel after U.S. And Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Israel has been conducting retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon ever since.

Israeli military officials reported a woman was killed and two others injured in northern Israel due to rocket and drone fire from Lebanon on Tuesday.

What Trump is Saying About a Possible Deal

Speaking in Florida, Trump insisted on Monday morning that “we are in the throes of a real possibility of making a deal” and that Iran wants one “very badly.”

“If I were a betting man, I’d bet for it,” the president added. “But again, I’m not guaranteeing anything.”

Trump said his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner had launched “very, very strong talks” on Sunday with a respected Iranian leader, whom he did not name. Talks would continue on Monday, Trump said, with “major points of agreement.”

The U.S. Would demand an end to Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Trump stated. “We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon,” he said. “Not even close to it.” He too said the U.S. Could retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile if a deal is reached. “If we have a deal with them, we’re going down and we’ll take it ourselves,” he vowed.

During an event in Tennessee, Trump predicted a deal was close, stating, “They want peace. They’ve agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon… but we’ll see.”

The State Department announced on Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to France on Friday to discuss the war with his counterparts from the G7 nations.

What Iran is Saying About a Possible Deal

Tehran appeared to reject Trump’s claim of progress, with the speaker of Iran’s parliament denying direct talks had taken place. “No negotiations have been held with the US,” Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on social media. “and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”

The state-run IRNA news agency published a similar claim, arguing Trump’s remarks were an attempt to reduce energy prices and buy time for military plans. However, it acknowledged “initiatives by regional countries to de-escalate tensions.”

Iran’s foreign minister acknowledged phone conversations with his Turkish counterpart over the weekend. Turkey has previously served as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington.

Tasnim, a semi-official news agency, insisted no direct talks occurred, despite “messages” received by Tehran. It characterized Trump’s comments as “psychological warfare.”

Iran announced on Tuesday that Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr had taken over as the country’s top security official after Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli strike last week.

What Other Countries Are Saying About a Possible Deal

Netanyahu said he had spoken to Trump, who believed the U.S. Might be able to leverage military achievements to “realize the objectives of the war in an agreement” with Iran. However, Netanyahu stated Israel would continue to strike Iran and Lebanon.

Egypt’s foreign ministry said it had been working to avoid “reaching to the point of no return” and welcomed Trump’s statements.

An Egyptian official told the Associated Press that Washington and Tehran exchanged messages over the weekend through Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government was aware of U.S.-Iran talks and prioritized a negotiated agreement with tight conditions on Iran’s nuclear program.

Oman announced it was “working intensively to put in place safe passage arrangements” for the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Issues Security Alert for Americans Abroad

The U.S. State Department issued a worldwide security alert on Sunday, urging Americans abroad to exercise increased caution due to threats from Iranian officials and affiliated groups.

A top Iranian military spokesman threatened to pursue U.S. And Israeli officials beyond active conflict zones.