Iran talks progress seen

Washington (AFP) — United States President Donald Trump signaled progress on Monday in talks with Iran to avoid a return to war, as Tehran reported “intensive” exchanges while offering to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under strict conditions.

The fresh diplomatic signals came ahead of US midterm elections on Tuesday, in which Trump’s Republican Party is pushing to retain control of Congress, faced with voter dissatisfaction over the conflict and the soaring fuel prices it has triggered.

A deal with Tehran “could happen,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible.”

But hours later, Washington’s diplomatic overtures were dashed by a report that the United States had attacked Iran, in what The Wall Street Journal said was the latest in a string of limited strikes it secretly carried out against the Islamic republic in recent weeks.

Iranian state media reported five explosions in rapid succession on Qeshm island in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US Central Command did not immediately respond to an Agence France-Presse request for comment.

Earlier, oil prices plunged by more than seven percent on Monday on optimism over a possible end to the eight-month-old conflict.