Trump says Tehran wants deal to end war 'so badly'

Israel and Iran trade new strikes as Trump says Tehran wants deal to end war 'so badly'

Summary


President Donald Trump says negotiations to end the Iran war are happening "now" and the "people" the US are speaking to "want to make a deal so badly" - the price of oil has fallen by around 6%


His comments come a day after Iranian officials denied any contact with the US had taken place, calling claims of talks "fake news"


Israel and Iran are continuing to exchange strikes, while residents of southern Lebanon are warned by the Israeli military to evacuate


The Pentagon is expected to deploy troops from the 82nd Airborne division to the Middle East, according to the BBC's US partner, CBS News


Iran saying it will allow "non-hostile vessels" to pass the Strait of Hormuz makes clear Tehran will continue to exert control over the waterway until a deal is struck, the BBC's diplomatic correspondent writes


Iranians tell BBC Persian they "just want to blink and have [the conflict] all done and over" - the Iranian Red Crescent says 82,000 sites have been damaged since the war began


US and Israeli media outlets are citing unnamed sources as saying the US has handed over a 15-point plan to Iran about ending the war - the BBC has not seen the document and is working to verify the reports.