UPDATE - Trump says Iran did not really want deal, signals military action may end in few days

ADDS QUOTES; CHANGES THROUGHOUT

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran came close to a deal and then backed off, casting doubt on Tehran's willingness to finalize a nuclear agreement.

Trump told Axios that the Iranians "got close and then pulled back — close and then pulled back," claiming that he "understood from that that they don't really want a deal."

The US president described his latest phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "great," and said, "We're on the same wavelength."

Outlining several options for the US military action against Iran, Trump said, "I can go long and take over the whole thing, or end it in two or three days and tell the Iranians: 'See you again in a few years if you start rebuilding (your nuclear and missile programs)."

He also added that it would take "several years" for Iran to recover from the latest round of attacks.

Accusing Iran of rebuilding some of the nuclear facilities that were struck by the US and Israel in June 2025, Trump told Axios that "Operation Midnight Hammer" last June paved the way for the latest "Operation Epic Fury."

Israel and the US launched a joint military operation against Iran early Saturday, citing alleged threats posed by the "Iranian regime."

The strikes came after the latest round of US-Iran nuclear talks concluded in Geneva on Thursday, where both sides had described the atmosphere as serious and constructive under Omani mediation.

Last June, the US had struck three Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day Israel-Iran conflict.