In an interview with U.S. outlet Axios on Sept. 27 local time, Trump said, "They (Iran) want to make a deal," adding, "I expect there will be additional talks with Iran this week." At the same time, he said the deal Iran wants amounts to "excessive demands that might have been possible a year ago," and that resuming attacks on Iran is something he is "always thinking about." He appeared intent on keeping the door to negotiations open while signaling the threat of strikes to retain the upper hand in talks.
The next round of U.S.-Iran negotiations is expected to take place as early as Sept. 28 in the form of indirect talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier delivered a seven-day plan focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear negotiations, but Trump rejected it. Araghchi said the same day, "We will resolutely confront any attack against us, even if it brings the war of the apocalypse," stressing, "At the same time, we are ready for diplomacy. A very reasonable proposal is on the table." Araghchi is scheduled to remain in New York through Sept. 30, but Iranian media reported that no talks are planned.
Meanwhile, a suspected bomb plot occurred near Britain's RAF Fairford base, which is used by U.S. Air Force bombers. British counterterrorism police consider Iranian involvement in the case highly likely, local media including The Telegraph reported. Fairford is one of Europe's key bases used by the U.S. Air Force for military operations against Iran and hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force's 501st Combat Support Wing and the 420th Air Base Squadron. British police said the five men arrested that day were all British nationals and that, while there had been speculation they attempted Iranian-directed terrorism or Russian-instigated sabotage, the exact motive was still being determined.
