US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran are progressing "very well," claiming Tehran is making significant concessions as diplomatic efforts continue following months of conflict.
He also denied reports that the United States had provided money to Iran and dismissed suggestions that US forces were responsible for a deadly strike on an Iranian girls' school.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with the NATO chief on Wednesday, Trump expressed optimism about the direction of US-Iran relations.
"Things are going very well with Iran. We are winning. Iran is making a lot of concessions," Trump said, adding that Tehran had assured Washington it would not impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US president also firmly denied claims that the United States had provided financial assistance to Iran.
Trump criticises NATO over Iran war
During the media interaction, Trump voiced frustration with America's allies, saying NATO had disappointed the United States during the Iran war. He did not elaborate on the reasons behind the criticism but described the alliance's role during the conflict as unsatisfactory.
Trump responds to Iranian school strike
Trump also addressed questions about the February 28 strike on a girls' school in the Iranian city of Minab, saying he had not yet reviewed the latest investigation.
"I haven't seen the report yet," Trump said, adding that it was highly unlikely that US missiles struck the school.
"There were missiles flying all over the place," he said. "Somebody said it was our missile, maybe it wasn't our missile, but I have seen nothing to lead me to believe it was. I don't think it was us."
He further remarked that the incident may never be conclusively resolved because of the intensity of the fighting.
"I don't know that they are ever going to solve that problem in terms of whose fault it was because there were missiles flying all over the place," Trump said.
Trump's remarks come after Reuters reported in March that an initial internal US military investigation indicated US forces were likely responsible for the fatal strike on the school in Minab, southern Iran.
According to Reuters, the Pentagon later elevated the investigation but has not publicly acknowledged any preliminary findings.
Sources familiar with the matter previously told Reuters that the strike may have resulted from the U.S. military using outdated targeting data.
Iranian officials said the February 28 strike, which occurred on the first day of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, killed more than 175 children and teachers.
International humanitarian law considers deliberately targeting a school a potential war crime. US officials have repeatedly maintained that Washington would never intentionally target a school.
The attack sparked widespread international condemnation, with the UN human rights office describing it as "absolutely horrific."
Investigation remains ongoing
Immediately after the incident, Trump claimed -- without providing evidence -- that Iran was responsible for the strike.
Since then, he has repeatedly said he does not know enough about the incident, that the investigation remains ongoing, and that he will accept its findings once completed.
The US president has also stated that nobody deliberately attacked the school, while continuing to reject allegations that American forces were responsible.
