Trump Says Iran Deal Could Come by Aug. 6, but Feasibility Is Unclear

President Donald Trump said on Aug. 5 that talks with Iran were continuing and could be concluded by the next day. He also said he was considering seizing Iran's oil.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said an agreement with Iran was likely "tomorrow," referring to Aug. 6. "Negotiations are under way right now," he said.

If Iran does not reach a deal quickly, Trump said he is considering "blowing up everything" and taking its oil. He has argued since the 1980s that the US should seize Iran's oil.

Earlier on Aug. 5, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would launch a sweeping attack on key Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, on Aug. 7. He also pressed Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and reach an agreement. In the post, he used profanity and insults, writing: "Open the fucking strait right now, you crazy bastards. Otherwise you're going to live in hell. Praise Allah."

Trump first threatened on July 21 to attack Iranian power plants and later pushed back the timing twice. The current deadline is 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 6, or 9 a.m. in South Korea on Aug. 7.

It is unclear whether Trump's claim that an Iran deal is close is accurate. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged in an interview with Al Jazeera that he had been exchanging messages with Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy. Even so, few believe Iran's civilian government, including Araghchi, controls the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC. Even if some factions in Iran want negotiations, halting the fighting would be difficult unless they can rein in the military centered on the IRGC. Iranian media, amid the successive removal of Iran's leadership, have reported that missile-launch authority has been delegated to regional units. That leaves it unclear who can decide on a ceasefire or an end to the war, and suggests fighting could continue in the form of guerrilla warfare even if negotiations move forward.

Iran has continued missile and drone attacks against US forces, Israel and Kuwait. The IRGC said it had struck Israel's Haifa refinery, the Habshan gas facility and Al Ruwais petrochemical plant in the United Arab Emirates, the Sitra facility in Bahrain and the Shuaiba facility in Kuwait, describing the attacks as retaliation for strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure. It also suggested it could move to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea chokepoint, in addition to the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for Middle East oil shipments.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, recently wrote on X: "How much of the world's oil, liquefied natural gas, wheat, rice and fertilizer shipments pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait?" He added: "Which countries and companies ship the most through this strait?" Iranian media said the post suggested Iran could use a closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to further pressure the US and Israel.

Lee Sang-eun, Washington correspondent, Hankyung.com, selee@hankyung.com