Donald Trump said he was not satisfied with Iran’s proposals to end the war, suggesting that talks were far from being concluded.

The US president’s remarks poured cold water on hopes that a deal was close, effectively rejecting the positions that negotiators from both sides had been discussing.

“They’re negotiating on fumes,” Mr Trump said at a cabinet meeting in front of television cameras in Washington, describing Tehran as “very much intent” on making a deal but they “haven’t gotten there” yet.

He added: “We’re not satisfied with it, but ‌we will be. We ⁠will be either that ⁠or we’ll have to just finish the job.”

The rejection adds doubt to talks that at the weekend appeared headed toward an agreement. 

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, said American negotiators could determine within “the next few hours and days” whether an agreement was possible.

But Mr Trump’s statement indicated no such certainty.

Uranium issue unresolved

The main sticking points remain deadlocked. The United States demands that Iran surrender its cache of highly enriched uranium – atomic material that Mr Trump said would not be exchanged for sanctions relief.

Iran wants the uranium question deferred for 30 days after any ceasefire and insists on sequenced resolution of issues rather than simultaneous agreement on all fronts.

The dispute intensified on Wednesday when Iranian state television reported that it had seen a deal framework to end the conflict.

According to the report, a draft memorandum would see the Strait of Hormuz fully reopened under joint Iran-Oman management in 30 days, with the United States lifting its naval blockade and withdrawing military forces from the region.

The White House immediately rejected the report as a “complete fabrication,” showing Iran’s attempts to shape public opinion through its state media.

Mr Trump said the strait must be “open to everybody” and that the US would “watch over it,” also warning Oman not to interfere.

Asked if he would accept a short-term deal that would allow Iran and Oman to control the waterway, Mr Trump said: “No, the strait’s going to be open to everybody.”

He added: “Oman will behave just like everybody else or we’ll have to blow them up.”