Trump says US in talks with 'more reasonable' Iran regime, warns of attacks if no deal

Says deal is close but threatens to obliterate oil wells, Kharg Island if Strait of Hormuz not opened

United States President Donald Trump said on Monday the US was in talks with a "more reasonable regime" to end the war in Iran but repeated his warning to Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk US attacks on its oil wells and power plants.

"Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately 'Open for Business,' we will conclude our lovely 'stay' in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island," Trump wrote in a social media post.

He also threatened to attack the desalination plants that supply clean water in Iran. The US president said last week he would pause attacks on Iran's energy plants for 10 days, which would be until April 6, US time.

While Trump has said the US and Iran are making progress in talks, he has also been sending more US ​troops to the region, leading Iran's parliament speaker to accuse Washington of sending messages about possible negotiations while planning a ground invasion, prompting more defiance ⁠from Tehran.

Meanwhile, Iranian leaders have denied being in direct talks with the US.

Read: Trump calls Iran's current leaders 'very reasonable' as Pakistan prepares to host talks

On Sunday, Trump claimed that Iran is sending the US 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning.

"And now, today, they gave us, as a tribute — I don't know, I can't define it exactly, but they gave us, I think out of a sign of respect, 20 boats of oil — big, big boats of oil — going through the Hormuz Strait, and that's taking place starting tomorrow morning," he told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, DC.

"I would only say that we're doing extremely well in that negotiation," Trump said. He added that he is "pretty sure” the US will make a deal with Iran, “but it's possible we won't.” "I do see a deal in Iran," he said, adding it "could be soon."

Trump also said the US is negotiating with Iran both "directly and indirectly."

Read More: Hormuz — alternatives and peace

When asked whether he is still considering putting boots on the ground, he said the US has "lots of alternatives." "We're ahead of schedule with Iran. We're weeks ahead of schedule...and we have a group, it's really a new regime. It's a new group of people — people that we've never dealt with before, that are acting very reasonable," he said.

Iran last Wednesday rejected a 15-point plan from the US to end the war, saying any ceasefire would take place only on Tehran’s terms and timeline.

When Trump was asked whether Iran had responded to his proposed 15-point plan, he said: "Yeah...They gave us most of the points — why wouldn't they?" "Just to prove that they're serious, they gave us all of these boats," he added.