Trump's envoy says U.S. will soon hold talks with Iran

JAKARTA - Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has confirmed that the United States (US) will hold a meeting with Iran at least "this week". President Donald Trump is currently reported to want a "peace deal" amid the ongoing US-Israeli attacks.

"We expect there will be a meeting this week and certainly hope it will materialize. The ships are starting to pass, this is a positive sign, and I think the president wants a peaceful agreement," Steve Witkoff said in a statement at an investment forum in Miami.

"This is what I mean by negotiations, and we will not stop until this process is complete. We have also raised this matter," he continued, quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Saturday, March 28.

Meanwhile, separately, Trump claimed Iran wanted to hold talks.

"They were destroyed. They wanted to talk, and we wanted it too, now they want to make a deal," he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington expected to complete its military campaign against Iran "in weeks, not months," and the US could achieve its goals without deploying troops on the ground.

The US and Israel have carried out air raids against Iran since February 28, killing more than 1,340 people.

Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage, as well as disrupting global markets and flights.

At least 13 US military members have been killed since the war began, in a conflict that has raised energy prices and affected shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.