United States President Donald Trump on Thursday made a series of remarks on Iran during a Cabinet meeting that focused largely on the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. His comments touched on negotiations, military action and developments around oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Trump claims Iran wants a deal
Speaking at the meeting, Trump said Iran was actively seeking an agreement with the United States. "They’re begging to make a deal, not me," he said, adding that he wanted to "set the record straight" on who was pushing for talks, as reported by Hindustan Times.
He further remarked, "Anybody would know they're talking," while describing Iranian leaders as "great negotiators". At the same time, Trump criticised Tehran, saying, "They’re not fools, they're very smart actually in a certain way….I say they’re lousy fighters but they’re great negotiators."
Warning over continued conflict
Trump also urged Iran to move forward with a deal, linking it to the possibility of continued military action. "They now have the chance, that is Iran, to permanently abandon their nuclear ambitions and to join a new path forward," Reuters news agency cited Trump as saying during the Cabinet meeting.
He added a warning, stating, "We'll see if they want to do it. If they don't, we're their worst nightmare. In the meantime, we'll just keep blowing them away."
Claims over Strait of Hormuz movement
The US President also spoke about developments involving oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Trump, Iran had allowed the movement as a gesture.
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He claimed that 10 oil tankers were permitted to pass through the route as a "present", signalling what he described as Iran's intent to ease tensions. Earlier in the week, Trump had said that Iran allowed eight "big boats of oil" to transit the Strait, followed by two more vessels.
These remarks come amid ongoing conflict in the region and continued global attention on diplomatic and military developments.
