Addressing members of the media from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump affirmed that discussions with Tehran are actively continuing and that Iranian officials wish to communicate. He maintained that the United States has ample time to resolve the situation, characterizing the conflict as outside the bounds of a traditional war. His comments arrive amid a broader strategy of shifting between warnings of military strikes and expressions of optimism regarding a potential deal.
Key points
Diplomatic discussions are continuing between Washington and Tehran despite the backdrop…: Diplomatic discussions are continuing between Washington and Tehran despite the backdrop of active conflict.
The United States views the standoff as an atypical conflict where it maintains the advan…: The United States views the standoff as an atypical conflict where it maintains the advantage of time.
The administration maintains an unpredictable posture that alternates between the prospec…: The administration maintains an unpredictable posture that alternates between the prospect of military force and diplomatic compromise.
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This is an entry from: Live: Pakistan 'cautiously optimistic' about US-Iran mediation
Trump says 'there are talks', Tehran wants to talk
31 October 2026 00:19 GMT
US President Donald Trump has said that talks with Iran are ongoing, and that Tehran wants to talk, while reiterating that Washington was not engaged in a "typical war".
“There are talks. They want to talk. They keep talking. We have time, frankly. It’s a war, but it is not a typical war,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump has alternated between hinting at new strikes on Iran and saying a deal is possible.
Talks between the top diplomats addressed critical waterways and regional security during a contentious global summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Moscow's participation stirred pushback among attending officials, heightening existing divisions over ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Meanwhile, participating leaders warned of severe disruptions to the international order while negotiating separate bilateral economic and strategic arrangements.
Military defenses successfully neutralized an aerial threat directed toward the kingdom's territory during a cross-border attack. The operation was formally announced by alliance leadership following the engagement in the southern skies. Coalition authorities have not yet reported any injuries, loss of life, or structural damage resulting from the encounter.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio abandoned the customary group portrait in Atlanta after Western allies threatened boycotts over Sergei Lavrov's presence. The diplomatic standoff underscores deep friction among member states regarding the normalization of Moscow's war in Ukraine. These pervasive divisions now threaten to derail any joint communique from the ministerial summit.