US President Donald Trump said he could be willing to negotiate with Iran but that any talks would depend on the terms, striking a notably different tone from his earlier threats of overwhelming military
retaliation against Tehran.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he had heard that Iranian officials “want to talk badly.” He did not elaborate on what conditions Washington would require before entering negotiations.
Read more: US Burnt $5.6 Bn Worth Of Munitions During First 48 Hours Of Its Military Assault On Iran: Report
Trump nonetheless maintained pressure on Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, telling Fox News, “I don’t believe he can live in peace.” He also reiterated remarks from an earlier press conference about recent US military operations against Iran, saying the results were “way beyond expectation” and said he was surprised that Iran had launched missiles and drones toward Gulf countries amid the escalating conflict.
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The comments represent a shift in register from Trump’s posture earlier when he warned on social media that the United States would respond “twenty times harder” than previous strikes if Iran moved to block oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to target Iranian assets in ways that would make it “virtually impossible” for the country to rebuild.
Read more: THAAD To HIMARS, US Used These 30 Military Assets In First 10 Days Of Israel-Iran War
Washington’s military campaign has come at significant cost as the Pentagon expended $5.6 billion worth of munitions in the first 48 hours of its assault on Iran, according to US officials cited by The Washington Post- a figure that has raised concern among some members of Congress about the pace at which US forces are drawing down stocks of advanced weaponry.
