US President Donald Trump has said that he is not ready to strike a deal with Iran to end the ongoing war, even though Tehran appears willing to negotiate a ceasefire.
In an interview with NBC News, the
US President said the terms offered so far were not acceptable to Washington.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said, adding that any agreement to end hostilities would have to be “very solid.”
Though Trump declined to reveal specific conditions for a potential ceasefire agreement, he indicated that a commitment by Iran to permanently abandon its nuclear ambitions would likely be a key requirement.
Trump’s remarks came after it was reported that the Trump administration had rebuffed efforts by Middle Eastern allies to start diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war.
Trump has, so far, put forth varying estimates about the timeline of the conflict. While he initially said the American military campaign could last for 4–5 weeks, he has since insisted that American forces are “way ahead of schedule” and that there is “practically nothing left to target” in Iran.
He also said that he is working with other countries on a plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid surges in global oil prices, and he dismissed Americans’ concerns about rising gas prices since the US and Israel launched their joint military operation two weeks ago.
The US President also questioned whether Iran’s new supreme leader is “even alive.”
Trump said he was “surprised” that Iran decided to attack other Middle Eastern countries in response to the US-Israeli operation, and that U.S. strikes on Kharg Island on Saturday “totally demolished” most of the island but that “we may hit it a few more times just for fun.”
The conflict between Iran and Israel entered its 15th day on Saturday, with both sides intensifying their rhetoric and military operations. The war has continued to disrupt the region, affecting oil supplies, shipping routes and the broader security situation across several countries. Iranian media reported multiple explosions in Tehran as the fighting escalated.
According to Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, the US-Israeli attacks on Iran have killed more than 1,300 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top Iranian officials.
