Iran still has what it needs to build a nuclear weapon despite Trump’s airstrikes, and military hardliners are poised to gain greater control.

Prospects for negotiations between the United States and Iran on nuclear proliferation have dimmed significantly. Just a few days ago, it seemed the two sides were ready to return to negotiations. But US President Donald Trump then said he was not speaking to Iran and was not offering Tehran anything.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States would hold nuclear talks with Iran next week, teasing the possibility of a deal even after boasting that recent US strikes had crippled the Islamic republic's atomic programme.

We’ll just be sending them a letter,” Trump said, after suggesting Japan wouldn’t agree to boost U.S. rice imports.