US President Donald Trump voiced optimism Monday that diplomacy with Iran could produce a deal to end the months-long war, but warned that Washington would resume military strikes if negotiations failed.
"I have a lot of patience... We'll see what happens. I think there is a good chance that something could happen," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, when asked about possible progress in peace talks.
"If it doesn't, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago."
Iran and the United States have held their fire for three consecutive days after 13 nights of renewed US attacks, offering a narrow opening for diplomacy following the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said Iranian leaders had requested a meeting and argued that "the only reason they want to meet is because we've been hitting them very hard."
