Trump says Iran’s leaders are ‘strong’ and ‘proud’ but have ‘no choice’ over deal | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump said on Friday (June 5th) that Iran’s leaders had yet to agree on a deal with Washington to end the ongoing conflict because they were “strong” and “proud”, but insisted that Tehran would eventually have to come to an agreement.
Trump expressed confidence that the negotiations will eventually succeed despite protracted fighting.
“They have no choice”
Trump said Iran’s leaders were resisting concessions, but argued that circumstances would eventually force them to make a deal.
“They are strong, they are proud, there are things they never thought they would do and they will have to do,” Trump told NBC News. “They have no choice and it takes a while.
His comments come as US and Iranian officials continue talks aimed at ending the conflict, which entered its fourth month last week.
The conflict continues despite efforts for a ceasefire
The United States and Iran agreed to a cease-fire in April, but that arrangement has been repeatedly extended due to ongoing tensions.
Hostilities have resumed in recent days, including exchanges of strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the fragility of efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
The closure of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz earlier in the conflict disrupted global energy markets, contributing to higher oil prices and increased fuel costs in the United States.
Trump pushes back against critics
During the interview, Trump dismissed criticism that his administration has been slow to provide solutions.
“These things take years to do,” he said.
The president argued that the confrontation with Iran should be seen in the context of decades of hostility between Washington and Tehran.
“These people have been fighting for 47 years. They have been killing Americans,” Trump said.
He also compared the timeline of the current conflict to the Vietnam War.
“I’m moving very quickly. I’m three months in. You know, Vietnam lasted 19 years,” Trump said. “All they’re doing is saying, ‘Hey, when are you going to win?’
Claims of military success
Trump claimed that US military operations have significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
“We have completely destroyed their army,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that Iran still retains some ability to carry out attacks.
“Most of the drone factories have been taken out, most of the launch pads have been taken out, and most of the missile production areas have been taken out,” Trump said.
“But they still have the capacity. They have some missiles, they have some drones.”
The president estimated that Iran retains roughly “21% to 22%” of its missile arsenal, though he noted that this still represents a significant number of weapons.
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Iran continues to attack
Despite Trump’s assessment, Iran demonstrated its continued missile and drone capabilities earlier this week through strikes in the Persian Gulf region.
Kuwait International Airport was among the targets hit, underscoring Tehran’s ability to continue military operations despite months of conflict and sustained US-led strikes.
Nuclear concerns remain central
Trump and senior administration officials have repeatedly argued that the military campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The conflict began after a series of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, with Washington claiming the operation was aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and degrading its military infrastructure.
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