President Donald Trump stated Tuesday that the United States is not yet prepared to reach a deal to end the ongoing conflict with Iran, despite reported willingness from Tehran to negotiate a ceasefire. The remarks came during a White House lunch, where Trump also criticized NATO for what he perceived as insufficient support.
Responding to a reporter’s question about a post-war plan for Iran, Trump indicated that a premature withdrawal of U.S. Forces would necessitate a decade for Iran to rebuild. He also claimed that Iran’s “actual top leader was killed yesterday,” a statement apparently referencing Israel’s assertion of having eliminated powerful national security chief Ali Larijani.
“We’re not ready to leave yet, but we will be leaving in the… pretty much, the very near future,” Trump said, offering no specific timeline. This echoes previous statements made on March 14th, where he indicated that while Iran desires a deal, “the terms aren’t good enough yet,” according to NBC News.
Trump’s comments followed criticism regarding the U.S. Easing of sanctions on Russian oil, a move intended to mitigate surging global oil prices exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East. He also dismissed concerns about rising gas prices within the U.S. Following the joint military operation with Israel two weeks ago.
The President further questioned the status of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, suggesting uncertainty about whether he is “even alive.” Trump also described U.S. Strikes on Kharg Island as having “totally demolished” most of the island, adding a provocative note that further strikes were possible “just for fun.”
According to the Times of Israel, Trump suggested the U.S. Would not be fighting Iran for “much longer,” adding, “A couple of weeks. It won’t be much longer.” He also joked about the difficulty of identifying appropriate counterparts within the Iranian government following the elimination of numerous leaders.
Global oil prices have surged by 40 to 50 percent since Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz and attacked energy and shipping targets in the Gulf, prompting calls for intervention to secure the vital waterway. Trump urged NATO partners and China to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the critical conduit for crude oil.
Israel has indicated it still has “thousands of targets in Iran” and is “identifying new targets every day,” signaling a continued military campaign. The U.S. And Israel have been engaged in a joint military operation against Iran for two weeks, with numerous top Iranian officials reportedly killed, including Ali Shamkhani, a security advisor.
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