“I’m not interested in the midterms”: Trump vows not to rush to sign Iran peace deal | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) promised to strike a favorable deal to end the war with Iran and warned that the regime’s efforts to perpetuate it will not work.
Trump made the remarks at a cabinet meeting, saying, “I’m not interested in the midterms.
He dismissed concerns about the political fallout of the war at home, saying: “They thought they’d outlast me, you know? We’ll outlast him, he’s got rolling deadlines.”
Read also | US Iran War News LIVE: Trump says US not yet satisfied with Iran deal
The US president added: “I don’t care about midterms. Look what happened last night, it was a prelude to midterms. People understand that,” he said, referring to his endorsed candidate who won the Texas GOP Senate primary.
Trump is not yet satisfied with the agreement
He also expressed confidence that the US would soon reach an agreement with Iran to end the conflict; however, he warned that his administration was not yet satisfied with the terms and was willing to renew the fight if it could not secure its demands.
We’re not happy with it, but we will,” Trump said. “Either that or we’re going to have to finish the job.”
He also touted the restoration of Internet access in Iran as a sign that the regime’s hard line was weakening, arguing that “their whole economic system is broken.”
“They just want to make a deal,” he said. “I don’t think they have a choice.
He went on to say that while he felt a “good deal” could now be reached with Iran, he preferred a “grand deal”, later saying the deal had to be even better.
“It has to be perfect,” Trump said. “I didn’t do it to get a nasty deal.
Read also | Wall Street mixed as oil falls on Iran deal hopes, Micron up 5.6%
Tehran will not get relief from sanctions: Trump
The US president also said Tehran would not get sanctions relief even if it gave up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. He told PBS News on Wednesday, “No, no, not at all. Not sanctions relief, no,” when asked if the current framework would mean Tehran giving up its highly enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief.
“They will give up their highly enriched uranium not because of sanctions, relief. No, no, not at all,” he added.
Don’t want Russia or China to take Iran’s uranium,”: Trump
During the meeting, Trump also expressed concern about the possibility of Russia or China taking over a shipment of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. He further insisted that there were no discussions about financial aid to Iran before the country fulfilled its obligations.
The remarks offer a tougher stance on two key points that are central to ongoing negotiations with Tehran, CNN reported.
Asked about the prospect of Moscow or Beijing removing the near-bomb-grade uranium currently believed to be buried deep underground, he added: “No, I wouldn’t feel comfortable.”
The change in his stance comes days after he said he would be open to the uranium being “destroyed on site or in another acceptable location,” though he did not specify any options.
He also appears unwilling today to ease any economic pressure on Iran that the country is seeking under the deal.
US will “police” Strait of Hormuz, Trump says
During the meeting, he also touched on one of the problematic points of the agreement: the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. He said the key waterway would be “open to all” and would be “supervised” by Washington, adding that those conditions were part of negotiations with Iran.
He also warned Oman not to interfere and warned against strikes, saying: “Oman will behave like everyone else or we will have to blow them up.”
Asked if he would accept a short-term deal that would allow Iran and Oman to control the critical waterway, Trump said: “No, the strait will be open to all.”
“These are international waters. Nobody’s going to police it. We’re going to police it. We’re going to police it, but nobody’s going to police it,” Trump said. “That’s part of the negotiation we have.
Read also | A US senator questions Pak’s role as a mediator, saying he will not sign the Abraham Accords
Trump admin rejects Iran MoU claims
Earlier today, the Trump administration rejected claims by Iranian state media that it had obtained a draft framework for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Tehran and Washington to end the conflict.
In a post on X, Rapid Response 47, the White House’s official communications page, he wrote: “This report from Iran-controlled media is not true and the memorandum of understanding they ‘issued’ is a complete fabrication. No one should believe what Iran’s state media is putting out.”
Last week, the US president said the Iran deal was “largely negotiated” but the two sides still had to finalize the agreement.
