Iran FM says 'no tangible progress' in talks but Trump says deal close

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Wednesday that negotiations to end the Middle East conflict have achieved 'no tangible progress,' contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump’s optimistic assessment that a deal could be reached 'over the weekend.' The tensions escalated as Kuwait reported an Iranian drone strike on its international airport’s passenger terminal, killing one Indian national and injuring 63 others. Kuwait’s military condemned the attack as 'criminal Iranian aggression,' while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied responsibility, blaming a malfunction in U.S. Patriot missile systems. Trump emphasized that talks should separate the U.S.-Iran conflict from the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon, though Iran insists the issues are linked. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted Iran’s stockpiles of highly enriched uranium as a key negotiation point, alongside demands for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and curb nuclear activities. Araghchi reiterated that communications with the U.S. remain open but warned any Israeli strike on Beirut would trigger a 'full-scale resumption' of the war, with Iran’s armed forces prepared to retaliate. The renewed violence tests the April 8 ceasefire, which paused over a month of conflict sparked by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Trump dismissed the recent clashes as a 'more moderate' form of ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of 'playing with fire,' citing Trump’s threat of a full-scale military response if necessary. Kuwait suspended air traffic temporarily after the attack but later resumed flights, though the airport had only fully reopened on Monday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards accused the U.S. of provoking retaliation by targeting a tanker and a communications tower on Qeshm Island. The escalation underscores the fragile stability of the region, with civilian casualties and infrastructure damage exacerbating tensions. Residents near the airport described hearing explosions throughout the night, reflecting growing unease over the conflict’s unpredictable trajectory.