US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington was having “good talks” with Iran and expressed hope that the talks could lead to a deal. However, he warned that the United States would resume military attacks if diplomacy failed.Speaking to reporters, Trump said there was a real possibility of reaching an agreement but made it clear that military action was an option. He said, “We’re having good talks. I think there’s a good chance that something can happen, and if it happens, great, if it doesn’t, we’ll do what we were doing two days ago.”Later, while addressing an election rally in Michigan, Trump adopted a tough tone and said that Iran cannot be persuaded only through incentives.“You can’t bribe them. You have to defeat them and we will defeat them completely. But we will see what comes out of it. Right now, very friendly talks are going on,” news agency Reuters quoted him as saying.Despite Trump’s comments, tension remains in the entire region. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq reported drone strikes on Monday, showing that hostilities have not completely subsided despite the pause in the US bombing campaign.Washington halted its two-week air campaign against Iran on Saturday in a surprise policy change by Trump after nearly five months of conflict. Iran said it had not abandoned diplomacy but denied reports that it had sought talks with Washington.Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai said messages were continuing to be exchanged through intermediaries, but he stressed that claims that Iran had requested talks were “fabricated.” “It’s not in our DNA,” he said.A senior Iranian official previously told Reuters that Tehran would halt its attacks as long as Trump continued to do so. ceasefire Declared by the United States.However, Iran’s Central Military Command later accused the United States of attempting to threaten ships and oil tankers in Iranian waters and described it as an illegal maritime blockade, describing it as further escalating the conflict.Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones targeting petroleum facilities, including sites in Riyadh. The kingdom alleged that the drones were launched from Iraq by Iran-backed armed groups and said it reserved the right to respond.Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi movement, which is backed by Iran, has claimed responsibility for targeting Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline that runs to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The group said the attack was carried out in retaliation for Saudi drone campaigns.Tehran also said it remained in control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. The issue remains a major point of disagreement, with Washington insisting that commercial ships should be allowed to pass freely, while Iran says it has the right to monitor traffic through the waterway.Global oil prices fell sharply on Trump’s comments on easing military action and possible talks. US crude fell more than eight per cent to $81.98 a barrel, while Brent crude fell more than nine per cent to $87.77.The conflict has also become a political issue ahead of the midterm elections in the United States in November. Trump’s approval rating rose to 37 percent in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted over the weekend, although only one in three Americans supported a military operation against Iran. Many respondents said the president had failed to clearly explain the objectives of the war.According to Reuters and multiple US media reports, Trump’s decision to suspend the bombing was taken after advice from military commanders who believed the operation had reached the limits of what could be achieved. Officials reportedly warned that the army was running out of suitable targets and expressed concern over the shortage of air weapons.Trump rejected suggestions that the United States was facing ammunition shortages, saying that stocks were being replenished quickly after supplies were sent to Ukraine. He said that he wants the most advanced weapons of the army. Iranian state media also claimed that six foreign ships that attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz without permission were turned back on Monday.The latest phase of the conflict began when the United States launched renewed air strikes in response to Iranian attacks on shipping using the route promoted by Washington near the Omani coast. Iran insists that ships should instead use a channel closer to its own coastline, where it says it has the right to regulate transit and impose fees.The two-week US bombing campaign killed several people in Iran and damaged military sites as well as bridges and tunnels in the south of the country. Four US service members were killed in retaliatory attacks on US targets in neighboring countries, while Iran also targeted civilian infrastructure in Gulf states, saying the attacks were in response to US military action.Although Washington and Tehran agreed in June on a framework for talks to address issues including Iran’s nuclear program by the end of August, the two sides disagree on the interpretation of provisions related to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.