Trump says he expects Iran deal 'in a day or two'

US and Iranian negotiators will probably meet this weekend, President Trump told Axios, expecting them to hammer out a final deal to end the war.

Multiple US officials and other sources briefed on the negotiations have told Axios that while significant progress has been made and the US and Iran are now closing in on a three-page peace plan, gaps still remain on critical issues.

Trump, who has claimed to have personally spoken with the Iranians in recent days, is clearly feeling optimistic.

"The Iranians want to meet. They want to make a deal. I think a meeting will probably take place over the weekend. I think we will get a deal in the next day or two," he said in a brief phone interview.

Axios reported on Friday that one element of the deal under discussion would have the US release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in return for Iran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium.

The plan also involves a moratorium on Iranian enrichment.

What they're saying: Trump said he's not going to lift the naval blockade before a deal is reached, and he stressed he wants the Strait of Hormuz to be open for everybody.

Iran announced on Friday that it would open the strait for the remainder of the ceasefire, which ends on April 21, but the details of how that will work remain unclear.