US President Donald Trump has said Iran is desperate to reach an agreement to end the conflict, claiming that American military operations have significantly weakened Tehran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
Speaking in Washington ahead of the US midterm elections, Trump said a diplomatic settlement was possible but warned that further military action remained an option if negotiations failed.
Trump asserted that Iran had suffered major military setbacks, claiming its navy and air force had been destroyed and its missile-manufacturing capabilities severely compromised.
He also said American forces had eliminated Iran’s first- and second-tier leadership, adding that Tehran was no longer in a strong position to negotiate.
“Iran has nothing left. They want to make a deal, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump said, suggesting that the country was facing mounting economic and military pressure.
The US president also claimed that Iran was experiencing its highest inflation rate in 15 years and was running short of financial resources.
He maintained that Washington was achieving success in its confrontation with Tehran and was negotiating from a position of complete superiority and strength.
Trump says Iran agreement highly likely
Despite his military threats, Trump repeatedly indicated that a negotiated settlement with Iran could be reached. He described the chances of an agreement as very high, claiming that Iranian officials were extremely eager to end the conflict as soon as possible.
“They want to make a deal very badly, and there’s a very good chance we make a deal,” Trump said.
He also insisted that Iran could never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, describing the issue as a non-negotiable condition for Washington.
“We’re not going to allow Iran ever to have a nuclear weapon, and they understand that,” Trump said.
He warned that allowing Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons would fundamentally change the international security landscape.
Trump leaves possibility of further strikes open
Although Trump expressed optimism about negotiations, he did not rule out additional military action if diplomatic efforts failed. He said the United States could strike Iranian targets within an hour, describing such an operation as relatively straightforward for American forces.
Referring to the US military campaign, Trump recalled Operation Midnight Hammer, during which American B-2 bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities.
He claimed the operation had targeted Iran’s potential nuclear capabilities but suggested that another strike could become necessary against Fordow Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility.
Trump also described the $30 billion spent on the conflict as a relatively small amount, arguing that the expenditure was justified by the threat posed by Iran.
He cited the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani as an example of Washington’s actions against individuals responsible for attacks on Americans.
Trump says US not engaged in conventional war
In his interview with Fox News, Trump played down the scale of the ongoing confrontation, rejecting descriptions of it as a conventional war.
“People say we are at war, but we are not currently fighting a conventional war,” he said, describing the conflict as a limited military engagement.
He added that Iran was desperate to reach an agreement, but warned that fighting could resume if negotiations failed.
The president also claimed that the United States had already won the war against Iran and had established complete control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said large quantities of oil were moving through the strategic waterway and highlighted the recent rapid decline in global oil prices.
Trump questions timing of renewed military action
Trump’s latest remarks came after weeks of speculation that Washington could resume military strikes against Iran following the US midterm elections scheduled for Tuesday.
However, speaking to reporters in Washington on Monday, the president appeared to step back from that possibility. Asked whether he was considering striking Iran after the midterms, Trump replied, “No.”
His comments came as rising petrol prices, partly driven by the conflict and disruption to energy supplies, continued to put pressure on American households and threaten Republican prospects in the elections.
Trump addressed Iran during a speech at the Washington Reflecting Pool, which was presented as his closing campaign argument ahead of the midterm vote. He also described the United States as entering a golden age, claiming that investments worth $25 trillion had been secured in less than two years.
Turning to domestic politics, Trump accused Democrats of fielding the most dangerous candidates in American history. He also alleged that large numbers of people had entered the United States illegally during former president Joe Biden’s administration.
He said American voters would decide through their ballots whether extremists would gain political power.
Vance says Iran negotiations making progress
US Vice President JD Vance also expressed optimism about diplomatic efforts, saying Washington had held several productive conversations with Iranian representatives.
“The president and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement,” Vance said.
He added that the administration was continuing to work towards further progress and would assess the outcome of ongoing discussions.
Vance said no deadline had been set for launching additional attacks against Iran, leaving Washington’s military options open while negotiations continued.
His remarks followed three consecutive days of discussions involving Iranian negotiators and Qatari mediators in Doha, aimed at securing an agreement to end the conflict.
Trump said he believed Tehran genuinely wanted a deal, while reiterating that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remained Washington’s central demand.
For now, the US administration appears to be keeping both diplomatic and military options on the table, with the outcome of negotiations likely to determine whether the conflict moves towards a settlement or another round of strikes.
