May 07 (V7N)- US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was “very possible,” but warned that if negotiations collapsed, American bombing would resume “at a much higher level and intensity.”  

Trump’s remarks came as Iran has yet to respond to a new US proposal. Tehran’s chief negotiator accused Washington of seeking to force the Islamic republic’s “surrender” through naval blockades, economic pressure, and media manipulation.  

The US president halted a short-lived military operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing hopes for progress. He told reporters: “We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal.”  

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the US plan was still under review and that Tehran would communicate its position to mediator Pakistan after finalizing its views. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed optimism, saying momentum could lead to “durable peace and stability.”  

US officials told Axios that both sides were close to a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for nuclear talks. Trump also insisted Iran would hand over its enriched uranium, though he did not explain how this contentious issue would be resolved.  

Meanwhile, the US military said one of its warplanes disabled the rudder of an oil tanker attempting to break Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports. Despite the clashes, Denmark’s shipping giant Maersk reported one of its vessels successfully transited Hormuz under US escort.  

On the Lebanese front, Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs Wednesday, killing a senior Hezbollah commander from the group’s elite force, along with at least 11 others in separate strikes. Israeli military leaders vowed to intensify efforts to dismantle Hezbollah.  

Global markets rallied on Trump’s more conciliatory tone, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closing at record highs. But in Tehran, skepticism remained, with residents expressing fear that any US deal would bring little relief.  

END/WD/RH