U.S. President Donald Trump said in remarks to CNBC that the course of negotiations with Iran is moving toward reaching an agreement, adding that “matters with Iran will end in a great deal.”
In his comments, Trump stressed what he described as his country’s strong negotiating position, saying: “We are in a strong negotiating position, and Iran has no choice but to send a delegation to negotiate, and I believe this will lead us to a great deal.”
Trump also addressed sanctions and economic pressure, arguing that “the blockade has been successful, and we are not dealing with nice people, but we are dealing with them very successfully,” while also pointing to the factor of time, saying: “We do not have much time regarding the end of the ceasefire, and we are tougher and more hard-line than the regime in Iran.”
He also clarified his position on the truce, adding: “I do not want to extend the ceasefire, and our weapons are heavily stocked with ammunition and we are fully prepared, and I am ready and the military is ready to move against Iran,” noting that “Iran is trying to move missiles because we destroyed most of them and it is repositioning them during the ceasefire.”
Speaking about developments on the ground, Trump said: “I am using this period to replenish stockpiles, and Iran has likely done the same,” while praising U.S. forces, saying: “The military forces are truly amazing; what we achieved in Iran is incredible, and when Iran said two days ago that it would not send a delegation to negotiate, my response was that they certainly would.”
In a striking statement, Trump declared: “Iran’s naval and air forces and its leaders have been eliminated, but the new leaders are more rational,” adding what he described as broader political effects by saying: “I have in fact changed the regime in Iran, perhaps indirectly. We are in a very strong negotiating position that enables us to accomplish what previous presidents should have accomplished.”
He concluded his remarks by stressing the need to prevent regional escalation, saying: “It will not be allowed to blow up the Middle East and then Europe and then come for us.” He added: “I told my team before the military operation began that I would have to cause some disruption in the numbers and indicators, and if Iran were to obtain a nuclear weapon, it would begin destroying Israel, and we will not allow that to happen.”
