Trump says ‘getting close’ to deal to avoid Iran military action

US President Donald Trump said Thursday a deal was close on Iran’s nuclear programme that would avert military action, sending oil prices tumbling as he boasted of raising “trillions of dollars” on a Gulf tour.

“We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” Trump said in Qatar, the second stop of his multi-day Gulf tour.

“I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this,” he said, referring to military action.

Oil prices plunged more than three percent on…