From the Liveblog of
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Trump says second round of talks with Iran could take place this weekend
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Donald Trump says a second round of talks with Iran could take place this weekend.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump expresses his hope that a temporary extension of the two-week truce set to expire on April 21 won’t be necessary and that the sides would reach a deal for a permanent ceasefire.
Trump says he may even travel to Pakistan for a signing ceremony if a deal is reached.
Trump claims the US blockade of Iranian-linked ships trying to cross through the Strait of Hormuz has been an effective tool in bringing Iran to the table.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and we’re dealing very nicely with them,” Trump says.
He insists his red line is that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. He then claims that Tehran has already agreed to this demand and to give up its stockpile of highly-enriched uranium — something the Islamic Republic has not shown any indication that it is prepared to do.
“We have a very good relationship with Iran right now… and I think it’s a combination of about four weeks of bombing and a very powerful blockade,” Trump says.
The Times of Israel Community.