‘Make a deal’ or ‘get it done’: Trump warns ‘decision time’ is nearing on Iran amid threat of new strikes | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump has warned it is “decision time” for Iran, saying Tehran must choose between striking a deal with Washington and resuming military action amid escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
“Make a deal or get it done,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures as he considered seeking a diplomatic settlement against an escalation of the military campaign against Iran.
“I have to make a decision: Do I finish this, which would be very easy, or do I make a deal? That’s it,” Trump said, adding that Washington was unwilling to tolerate further delays.
Trump claimed the US had gained control of the Strait of Hormuz and said Iran was left with little leverage. “They get nothing. We get everything. They get nothing,” he said.
Trump has also defended the economic consequences of the conflict, calling higher fuel prices a cost worth paying if Iran is prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“I thought the gas would double and triple and it’s a small price to pay to take the nukes away from the maniacs,” he said.
The US president further claimed that Iran’s nuclear facilities are under constant surveillance and warned that Washington is ready to act if it detects suspicious activity.
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“We have every nuclear facility under surveillance. If there is any movement on site, we know exactly what to do, but it won’t,” Trump said.
Trump questions Iran’s willingness
abide by the peace agreement
Trump’s latest remarks follow his comments to reporters on Saturday, when he suggested a deal with Tehran could still be possible but doubted Iran would abide by its terms.
Asked whether the US could launch another attack, Trump refused to rule out military action.
“Maybe tomorrow… There’s a chance I’ll do it. There’s also a chance we’ll have a nice, big, beautiful deal,” he said. “They want to make a deal, but the problem is, will they keep the deal?”
Trump has hinted that the US could resume strikes against Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Washington has also deployed additional military assets toward the Persian Gulf, including a third aircraft carrier group, adding to fears of a possible escalation.
Trump also praised the US military campaign, claiming US forces had destroyed Iranian fighter jets and sunk 259 Iranian vessels.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government has continued a military campaign against Iran alongside the US, has also reportedly told US officials of his intention to attack Iran after the October 27 election.
Iran rejects claims of Strait of Hormuz proposal
Tehran has rejected reports that it has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Washington lifting its naval blockade.
According to the Tasnim news agency, Iran has denied making such a proposal through Pakistani intermediaries. Citing sources cited by Tasnim, Press TV dismissed the claims published by the Saudi media outlet as “lies and fabrications”.
Tehran says talks remain ‘meaningless’
Iran reiterated that talks with Washington cannot move forward unless its conditions are met, even as Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on Sunday.
Abbas Gouzardi, a spokesman for the speaker of Iran’s parliament, said dialogue with the US would have no meaning until the seven conditions set by Tehran were met.
In an interview with state news agency ISNA, Gouzardi characterized Trump’s warnings of renewed attacks as “boasting with the aim of threatening”.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has announced its seven conditions, and until these conditions are met, negotiations will have no meaning,” he said.
