President Donald Trump revealed that he has written a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attempting to negotiate a nuclear deal. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via The Associated Press)
"I would rather negotiate a deal," Trump told Fox Business. "I'm not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily."
"But the time is happening now, the time is coming up," he said. "Something is going to happen one way or the other. I hope that Iran, and I've written them a letter, saying I hope you're going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily it's going to be a terrible thing for them."
Behnam Ben Taleblu, director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Iran program, said that it seemed Trump was "putting all options on the table, from good to bad."
"But the President should be careful," Ben Taleblu said in a statement. "Tehran has set a trap for him, hoping to lure him into endless diplomacy that is used to blunt maximum pressure and dampen the credibility of an American or Israeli military option while buying time to creep towards a nuclear weapon."
Trump’s remarks also come days before the 18th anniversary of the abduction of retired FBI Special Agent Robert "Bob" Levinson from Kish Island, Iran, on Sunday, which also marks National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day.
TRUMP'S LATEST HIRES AND FIRES RANKLE IRAN HAWKS AS NEW PRESIDENT SUGGESTS NUCLEAR DEAL
President Donald Trump reinstated a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran in February, imposing tough sanctions against Tehran. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA/Reuters )
The FBI has continued to offer up to a $5 million reward for information that leads to Levinson’s recovery, while the State Department has offered $20 million for such information, as well as details on those who are wanted for their alleged involvement in his disappearance.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump told reporters in February he believes Iran is "close" to developing a nuclear weapon, but that the U.S. would stop a "strong" Tehran from obtaining one. He also signed an executive order instructing the Treasury Department to execute "maximum economic pressure" upon Iran through a series of sanctions aimed at sinking Iran’s oil exports.
"They're very strong right now, and we're not going to let them get a nuclear weapon," Trump said Feb. 4.
Trump’s first administration also adopted a "maximum pressure" initiative against Tehran, issuing greater sanctions and harsher enforcement for violations.
Diana Stancy is a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-somethings-going-happen-very-soon-iran-he-pushes-negotiate-nuclear-deal