The U.S. And Iran Are Clashing Again. Trump Says Tehran ‘Badly’ Wants To Deescalate
President Donald Trump said he doesn’t “know” whether the U.S. and Iran are set to go back to a full-scale war, but claimed Tehran “badly” wants to deescalate the renewed hostilities.
Speaking to press aboard Air Force one while returning to the U.S., he said that should such a scenario take place, the U.S. would “win it very quickly.”
“They have very little left, and they want to make a deal so badly. They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly. I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem,” he added.
The remarks took place after another round of attacks between the countries. Iran retaliated by targeting Kuwait and Bahrain, which host U.S. military bases.
The Kuwaiti army said it sustained material damages and one person was wounded as a result of the attacks but is on stable condition. Overall, Tehran launched one cruise missile, three ballistic missiles and 10 drones, the country added.
Iran, in turn, said that two railway bridges were hit as part of the U.S.’s attacks. One of them connects Tehran with the city of Masshad, where the funeral ceremonies for killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are set to end on Thursday.
“The foreign ministry emphasizes the resolute determination of the brave Iranian nation to defend its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national security,” the country said in a statement following the attacks.
Trump said earlier this week that the ceasefire between the countries is over after the U.S. carried new attacks against the country in retaliation for Tehran’s targeting of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
He went on to describe Iran’s leaders as “scum.” “They’re sick people. They’re led by people, and they’re vicious, violent people,” Trump added, claiming that if Tehran managed to get a nuclear weapon, “they’d use it.”
The president then said that he would allow negotiations to continue, but stressed he doesn’t “care.” “They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time. They’re a bunch of lying guys.”
In this context, the Joint Maritime Information Center again raised the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz to severe. It is the second-highest level in the NGO’s scale, only behind critical. It had been lowered to substantial after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war and kick off nuclear negotiations. The organization said vessels could face “deliberate hostile action” by Iran under current conditions.
