President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran are moving closer to a deal to end regional conflict [1].

The development is critical because it balances the threat of immediate military escalation with a diplomatic path toward a comprehensive interim cease-fire.

Speaking to CBS on May 19, 2026 [1], Trump said that a diplomatic resolution is possible. He said, "It's very possible that we'll make a deal" [2]. However, the president maintained a hard line toward Tehran, warning that he would "blow them to a thousand hells" if Iran does not accept a good deal [3].

As part of this pressure campaign, Trump postponed planned U.S. strikes on Iran that were scheduled for the Tuesday following May 19 [1]. The delay serves as a window for negotiations involving the U.S., Iran, and Pakistan [4].

Despite the progress, some reports suggest the terms remain a point of contention. While Pakistani officials described the interim agreement as "fairly comprehensive" [5], other reports indicate Tehran's latest proposal is little changed from an earlier version [1]. Trump said that earlier proposal was "garbage" [1].

The administration is currently pressuring Iran to accept the interim agreement to avoid further military action [3]. The U.S. objective is to secure a deal that effectively ends the conflict, while ensuring the terms are acceptable to the administration's standards [3].

“"I'll blow them to a thousand hells"”

This strategy employs a 'maximum pressure' approach, combining the immediate threat of military force with a diplomatic off-ramp. By postponing scheduled strikes, the U.S. is using military readiness as a bargaining chip to force Iran into a more favorable interim agreement, though the discrepancy between the 'comprehensive' nature of the deal and Trump's previous dismissal of Iranian proposals suggests significant gaps remain in the negotiations.