The US is close to reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran.

"We are in very serious talks with Iran for a lasting peace," Trump said during his Gulf tour, according to an AFP news summary.

"We are getting closer to being able to reach an agreement without having to do this... there are two steps to doing this, there is a very, very nice step and there is a violent step, but I don't want to do the second way," he said.

An Iranian source familiar with the negotiations said that differences remain to be narrowed in talks with the United States.

Officials said that new talks between Iranian and US negotiators aimed at resolving disputes over Tehran's nuclear program concluded in Oman on May 12, and further talks are planned, while Tehran publicly affirmed its continued uranium enrichment.

Although both Tehran and Washington have stated they prioritize a diplomatic solution to their decades-long nuclear dispute, the two sides remain divided on several red lines that negotiators will have to cross to reach a new agreement and prevent future military action.

The Iranian president reacted to comments made by Trump on May 13th calling Tehran the "most destructive force" in the Middle East.

"Trump thinks he can punish and threaten us and then talk about human rights. All the crimes and regional instability are caused by them (the US)," said Masoud Pezeshkian. "He wants to create instability inside Iran."

U.S. officials have publicly stated that Iran should stop enriching uranium, a position that Iranian officials call a "red line," asserting that they will not relinquish what they consider their right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil.

However, they have indicated a willingness to reduce the level of wealth accumulation.

Iranian officials have also expressed a willingness to reduce the amount of highly enriched uranium in their stockpiles – uranium enriched beyond the levels typically needed for civilian purposes, such as nuclear power generation.

However, they said they would not accept lower reserves than those agreed upon in a 2015 deal with world powers – an agreement that Trump withdrew from.

Iranian sources indicate that while Iran is willing to offer what it considers concessions, "the problem is that the US is unwilling to lift key sanctions in return."

Western sanctions have severely impacted the Iranian economy.

Regarding the reduction of enriched uranium in its stockpiles, the source noted: "Tehran also wants this to be done in stages, which the US does not agree to."

The source added that there was also disagreement about the destination to which the highly enriched uranium would be sent.