Donald Trump says it is "highly unlikely" the US will need to go back to war with Iran if negotiations on its nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz make progress. He told CNN's Jim Sciutto this in a 20-minute phone interview on Sunday 8 November. CNN says he repeated the phrase five times.
On Thursday, after meeting his national security team, Trump had said of a decision on further strikes: "You'll know soon enough." He now says a return to war depends on Iran.
"It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement"
"The answer is highly unlikely it's going to be necessary."
Trump also said US forces are ready to strike, with three aircraft carriers in the region "fully locked and loaded". He said targets including power plants and bridges have been identified, and that the US could knock down 38 bridges "in literally one hour". The Jerusalem Post reports he said he would prefer not to hit infrastructure.
Trump claimed Iran's air defences are destroyed and that it retains about 10% of its missile capacity and 15% of its drone capability. He also said Iran has 301% inflation. These claims have not been independently checked.
CNN describes the two sides as in a stalemate eight months into the war. It says Iranian hardliners are citing last week's US midterm result as a sign of a weakened Trump.