Abu Dhabi, 15 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) - US President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Thursday about nuclear talks with Iran, as he continued his Middle East tour.

"I think we're getting close to maybe doing a deal," Trump said during a visit to Qatar.

"We're in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace, and if we do that, it'll be fantastic," he said.

Iran has accepted certain conditions that it will not produce "nuclear dust," the 78-year-old said, without giving details.

At the same time, Trump again threatened to use major military force against the country if the two sides did not come to an agreement in the "nice" way.

Washington and Tehran are currently negotiating over the Iranian nuclear programme under the mediation of the Gulf state of Oman.

The United States is seeking an agreement to limit Iran's nuclear programme in order to prevent the country from building nuclear weapons.

In return, Tehran is hoping for an easing of sanctions which have hobbled its economy.

Trump said there were two ways to achieve a resolution to the dispute: with a "very, very nice step" or a "violent step," saying it would be "violence like people haven't seen before ... and I don't want to do that step."

With a nod to his host, Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Trump said that Tehran should thank him: "Iran is very lucky to have the emir because he's actually fighting for them," he said.

In 2015, Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme under the terms of the Vienna nuclear agreement.

However, Trump - then in his first term of office - unilaterally withdrew from the pact in 2018 and imposed new, stricter sanctions.

As a result, Tehran no longer complied with the conditions of the agreement. Iran insists that its nuclear programme is only for civilian purposes and not for the development of nuclear weapons.

Photo: EPA