New Delhi, April 14 -- US President Donald Trump said on Monday (April 13) that Iranian representatives had contacted Washington and expressed interest in reaching a deal amid escalating tensions in the Gulf.

The President remarked during a briefing to reporters at the Oval Office in the White House , "they'd like to make a deal very badly."

Speaking outside the Oval Office, he added: "We've been called by the other side. by the right people, the appropriate people, and they want to work a deal."

Trump did not identify who made the call or provide details of the discussions.

Reiterating his hardline stance, Trump said Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he said. "If they don't ...