Trump Says Iran Has Not Agreed to End War Because ‘They’re Strong and Proud’
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said Iran has still not agreed to a final deal with the United States to end the ongoing conflict because Iranian leaders are “strong” and “proud,” but warned that Tehran would eventually have “no choice” except to reach an agreement.
In an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Trump discussed the continuing tensions between the United States and Iran as negotiations to end the war remain stalled despite months of talks and a fragile ceasefire.
“They’re strong, they’re proud,” Trump said during the interview. “There are things they never thought they’d be doing that they’re going to have to do. They’ve got no choice, and it takes a little while.”
The war between the US and Iran entered its fourth month last week after both countries agreed to a temporary ceasefire in April. However, tensions have continued to rise in recent days following military strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States recently carried out strikes on Iranian drone launch sites after Iran allegedly targeted ships and military facilities in the Gulf region. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the American military actions as “defensive in nature” and said they were aimed at protecting US forces and international shipping routes.
Rubio told lawmakers that the operation, named “Operation Epic Fury,” had officially concluded, but stressed that the US would continue responding if Iran attacks ships or military targets again.
The ongoing conflict has severely affected the global economy, especially after Iran shut down parts of the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year. The waterway is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, and disruptions there caused global oil and gas prices to surge sharply.
During the interview, Trump criticized people who are pressuring him to quickly end the conflict, saying wars and negotiations take time.
“These people have been fighting for 47 years,” Trump said while referring to Iran’s leadership. “I’m into my third month and people keep asking when it will end.”
The US president also claimed that American military operations had significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities. According to Trump, most Iranian drone factories, missile launch sites and missile manufacturing facilities have already been destroyed.
However, he admitted that Iran still possesses missile and drone capabilities. Trump estimated that Iran still has around 21 to 22 percent of the missiles it had before the conflict started.
“It’s still a lot of missiles,” Trump said, adding that Iran continues to pose a threat despite recent military losses.
Iran recently demonstrated its remaining military strength by launching missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region, including strikes that reportedly reached Kuwait International Airport earlier this week.
Trump has repeatedly argued that military action against Iran was necessary to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. He also hinted that the United States could take tougher action if negotiations fail.
In another recent interview, Trump suggested the current US blockade on Iran may not continue for much longer but warned that if no agreement is reached, Washington may choose “the other way,” which he described as “not nice.”
The latest developments have increased fears of further escalation in the Middle East as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran continue to face major challenges.
