▲ This photo, released by Reuters, shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during an event to sign a memorandum in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on May 5, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Trump-Iran-negotiation

(LEAD) Trump says Iran deal possible before China trip, warns of renewed bombing

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, May 6 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump raised the possibility Wednesday that a peace agreement with Iran could be reached before his trip to China next week, but he threatened to resume bombing if Tehran does not agree to a deal.

Trump made the remarks in a phone interview with PBS News, stressing that the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has a "very good chance of ending," as he is set to have a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 and 15.

Axios reported earlier in the day that the U.S. thinks that it is getting close to an agreement with the Islamic Republic on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and devise a framework for more detailed nuclear talks.

"It's possible, yeah," Trump said, responding to a question about whether he thinks negotiations will be concluded before he leaves for China.

He struck a sanguine note when asked whether the U.S. is closing in on a deal with Iran to end the war.

"Yeah, I think so, but I felt that way before with them, so we'll see what happens," he said. "I think we'll have a very good chance of making a deal again. If we don't, we'll go back to our old ways."

The president touched on what's being negotiated in talks with Iran.

Asked if a deal with Iran would include Tehran exporting its highly enriched uranium to the U.S., Trump said, "No, not perhaps. It goes to the United States."

He confirmed that as part of a deal with the U.S., Iran would pledge not to operate its underground nuclear facilities.

He rejected the idea that Iran would be allowed to enrich uranium to 3.67 percent.

"No, it's not part of the deal," he said.

He said that it is "unlikely" that he would send Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner for talks with Iran.

"I think we can do it here, and maybe for the final meeting, we'll have a signing someplace," he said.

Asked if the Iran issue will be raised during his upcoming meeting with Xi, Trump said that if a deal is reached, there will be "not much to bring up."

"I think it's got a very good chance of ending, and if it doesn't end, we have to go back to bombing the hell out of them. Very simple," he said.

In a social media post earlier in the day, Trump ratcheted up pressure on Iran to reach a peace agreement with the U.S.

"If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," he wrote on Truth Social.

The U.S. and Iran have been struggling to narrow differences over a set of sticking points, including Tehran's push to hold sway over passage through the crucial Strait of Hormuz and Washington's drive to secure Iran's commitment not to seek a nuclear weapon.

In the post, Trump also said: "Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran."

He was referring to the military campaign against Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, which began in late February.

In a press conference Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the military campaign was "concluded," noting that the U.S. had achieved the objective of the operation.

Also on Tuesday, Trump said the U.S.' "Project Freedom" mission will be paused for a "short period of time," claiming that "great" progress has been made toward a "complete and final" agreement with representatives of Iran.

The operation began on Monday to guide commercial vessels, trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, through the Strait of Hormuz.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said earlier this week that there are currently about 22,500 mariners embarked on more than 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf due to Iran's attacks across the region.

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