President Trump told Axios that U.S. and Iranian negotiators will probably meet this weekend, and he expects them to hammer out a final deal to end the war.
Reality check: Multiple U.S. officials and other sources briefed on the negotiations have told Axios that while significant progress has been made and the U.S. and Iran are now closing in on a three-page peace plan, gaps still remain on critical issues.
- Trump, who has held at least one direct call with an Iranian official in recent days, is clearly feeling optimistic.
- "The Iranians want to meet. They want to make a deal. I think a meeting will probably take place over the weekend. I think we will get a deal in the next day or two," he said in a brief phone interview.
Driving the news: Axios reported on Friday that one element of the deal under discussion would have the U.S. release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in return for Iran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium.
- The plan also involves a moratorium on Iranian enrichment.
What they're saying: Trump said he's not going to lift the naval blockade before a deal is reached, and he stressed he wants the Strait of Hormuz to be open for everybody.
- Iran announced on Friday that it would open the strait for the remainder of the ceasefire, which ends on April 21, but the details of how that will work remain unclear.
The big picture: Trump said the deal will "make Israel safe" and stressed "Israel is going to come out great" at the end of the war.
- At the same time, he made clear he wants Israeli strikes on Lebanon to end as part of the ceasefire that was announced on Thursday.
- "Israel has to stop. They can't continue to blow buildings up. I am not gonna allow it," he said.
What to watch: On Friday evening, shortly before the interview, an Israeli drone conducted a strike in southern Lebanon.
- Some in the Israeli government oppose a deal and want to continue the wars in Iran and in Lebanon, though that likely won't be possible as long as Trump opposes it.
