“A framework for negotiations with the United States is taking shape,” said senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani in a post on the X platform, at a time when the clouds of war are once again gathering over the Gulf.

“Contrary to the atmosphere being created by the artificial war of the media, the formation of a structure for negotiations is underway,” Larijani wrote, without providing further details.

It is worth noting that on Friday, as the massive U.S. armada was arriving in the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump assessed that Iran wants to “strike a deal” with the United States.

“I can tell you that they want to strike a deal,” the American president told reporters in the Oval Office. When asked whether he had given the Iranians a deadline, Trump replied “yes,” without further clarification.

After first warning that “time is running out” before a strike against Tehran, Trump also said that he “hopes” he will not have to hit Iran, which is simultaneously being pressured to reach a nuclear agreement.

According to the U.S. news website Axios, citing American officials, any agreement with Tehran would have to include the withdrawal of all enriched uranium from the country, limits on its stockpile of long-range missiles, and a change in policy toward certain armed groups in the region.