In an interview with CNN, US President Donald Trump attempted to alleviate concerns about a potential resurgence of military action against Iran. “It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said on Sunday. “The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary.”
While affirming that the US military is prepared for strikes if needed, Trump claimed they could decisively incapacitate Iran. He mentioned, “I’ve got three aircraft carriers here. They’re fully locked and loaded,” adding that there are 38 key bridges in Iran that the US could target swiftly.
Despite this, Trump insisted that an escalation is “highly unlikely,” describing Iran as a “failing nation” financially weakened after months of conflict. He stated, “I hit them so hard. You don’t know how hard I hit them. They want to make a deal so badly.”
Trump ordered an attack on Iran in late February following an Israeli “preemptive strike” on the nation, which he argues has been seeking a deal ever since. Nonetheless, Iran has denied these claims. Tehran continues to launch attacks on US allies and maintains a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with the Houthi rebels in Yemen targeting critical sites in Saudi Arabia.
The most notable diplomatic progress since the start of the conflict was a memorandum of understanding signed by Iran and the US in June. However, this agreement lapsed in August, leading to a deadlock in both military and diplomatic efforts.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi remarked that peace negotiations have stalled since the recent US midterm elections, which he described as a “shock.” He expressed uncertainty about how long it would take for the US to process these results before moving forward.
Qatar, acting as a mediator, rejected claims of a breakdown in negotiations and confirmed that both sides are still keen on reaching an agreement. A senior Iranian official also indicated that Tehran has shared a proposal regarding its nuclear programme with Washington through Qatar, stressing that further discussions hinge on the US meeting key Iranian demands, such as lifting sanctions and unfreezing Iranian assets.
