Donald Trump signals wish to hold talks with Iran over nuclear deal

US president's remarks will spark divisions within Iran over country's nuclear ambitions and sanctions

Donald Trump has said he wanted a verified nuclear peace agreement" with Iran and denied he wanted to blow Iran to smithereens, describing such reports as greatly exaggerated".

But he said it was essential that Iran did not have a nuclear weapon, adding we should start working on it immediately". His remarks on his social media site truth social represent the clearest sign that Trump is willing to hold talks with Iran to try to replace the nuclear deal signed in 2015, but from which Trump pulled the US out in 2018.