Trump says Iran gave US 20 boats of oil 'out of a sign of respect'

WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran is sending the United States 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."

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.