(Web Desk) – US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran had assured that it would neither develop nuclear weapons nor purchase an atomic bomb and said that Washington and Tehran were very close to reaching an agreement.
In an interview with a US news channel, he warned that if a satisfactory deal was not achieved with Iran, another military operation might become necessary.
The United States was obtaining what it wanted from Iran and was not rushing the process, he said and added that “otherwise it would not be a good deal.”
Trump also claimed that “all the cards are in America’s hands.”
He had earlier announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, but later said it would be opened once the agreement was formally signed. He also claimed that Iran was currently in a very weak position and said its military, navy and air force had been severely damaged.
Trump said he preferred a negotiated agreement over conflict, arguing that the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened immediately after a deal is finalized.
He added that Iranian negotiators had adopted a tough stance and that discussions were taking time, but said Washington was seeking lasting results rather than a rushed agreement. Trump further stated that the US had targeted Iran’s military leadership and other strategic sites, but had avoided completely destroying Iran’s military capabilities.
According to Trump, lessons from previous wars showed that dismantling a country's entire state structure could create long-term instability. Referring to past experiences in Iraq, he said a different strategy had been adopted this time with the aim of promoting future regional stability.