The third round of US-Iran nuclear talks are progressing well, US President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday from New Jersey.
"We're in pretty good shape. I think we'll make a deal. I'm pretty sure it's going to happen very soon, without us having to drop bombs all over the place," Trump told the press in reference to the talks.
Trump has been confident in his ability to make a deal with the Islamic Republic, telling the press, "I think we're going to make a deal with Iran. Nobody else could do that."
Trump has also asserted that should no deal emerge, the US could lead strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
"If we don't make a deal, I'll be leading the pack," he said in an interview with Time magazine on Sunday.
State of the third round of talks
Washington and Tehran met in Oman on Saturday for the third round of indirect nuclear talks aimed at sealing a deal that would block Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, whilst lift crippling US economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held the talks in Muscat through Omani mediators, a week after a second round of talks took place in Rome that both sides described as constructive.
Araqchi voiced "extreme caution" about the success of the negotiations. "The negotiations are extremely serious and technical ... there are still differences, both on major issues and on details," he told Iranian state TV.
"There is seriousness and determination on both sides ... However, our optimism about the success of the talks remains extremely cautious."
The two sides agreed to continue talks next week, with another high-level meeting provisionally scheduled for May 3. Oman is expected to announce the venue.
Israel calls for total removal of Iran nuclear program
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated calls for Iran's entire nuclear infrastructure to be dismantled on Sunday, saying that the only "good deal" would be one that removed "all of [Iran's] infrastructure."
Israel has long sought to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and has not ruled out attacking the country's nuclear facilities, proposing a series of options to the Trump administration, including a mix of airstrikes and commando operations of varying severity.
Trump has told Netanyahu that Washington wants to prioritize talks with Tehran and that he is unwilling to support a strike on the country's nuclear facilities in the short term, the New York Times reported earlier this month.