Trump says Tehran has 'last chance' for deal as negations resume

Trump says he is giving Iran 'every last chance' to reach deal

President Donald Trump said Monday that he is giving Iran "every last chance" to reach a deal before the U.S. carries out a far more punishing military operation.

"I want to give them every last chance before decapitation. Very tough to do," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "...I'm very proud of the fact that I'll give people a chance. This is a big move to do an attack that big on a country."

Trump said Iranian officials called him after learning about the planned military operation.

"Hopefully they'll come to their senses," Trump added. "So they called me, and they said, 'Please don't attack. We'll make a deal.' That's the real truth. And everyone knows it."

Trump told reporters they're talking now with negotiations focused first on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, then on Iran's denuclearization, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar backing the diplomatic push.

The president said that if "given a chance to let a lot of people live," that he wants to "give that chance."

"I'm under no time constraint," Trump said.

But Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence said on Fox News the president should strike the remaining nuclear facilities in Iran.

"One does not make peace with one's enemy," Pence said. "One makes peace with one's defeated enemy."

Qatar says diplomatic efforts underway after US, Iran offer conflicting accounts of talks

Qatar said Tuesday it is working with all sides to find a diplomatic solution as President Donald Trump and Iran continued to publicly disagree over whether direct talks are taking place.

"We're looking into a diplomatic solution," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said during a briefing. He said mediation efforts are continuing with all parties but did not provide details or address the conflicting claims from Washington and Tehran.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei pushed back on Trump's claim, saying on Monday that Tehran is not holding direct talks with the United States. Instead, he said, Iran is communicating through mediators in Oman on issues related to safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump accused Iran's leaders of publicly denying negotiations while privately requesting meetings.

"Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking," Trump said Monday.

US forces redirect 45 commercial vessels sailing to or from Iranian ports, CENTCOM says

"As of Aug. 4, U.S. forces have redirected 45 commercial vessels, disabled 2 and boarded 2 to ensure compliance," CENTCOM said.