President Donald Trump expressed a relaxed approach regarding the timeline for Iran to return to peace negotiations and touted victory for the U.S. amid the ongoing conflict.
Trump stated he has “no time schedule” for Iran to rejoin negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. “I’m not in a hurry. I have no time schedule at all…whatever it takes,” the President told Al Jazeera on Wednesday.
“We are winning very big,” he added.
Trump’s comments came in response to a question about the time he was allotting for Iran to return to talks. He further highlighted the economic turmoil in Iran, mentioning “massive inflation” and a deteriorating economy. He also accused Iran of treating its citizens poorly and causing numerous protester deaths.
When questioned about the effectiveness of economic measures versus military strikes, Trump responded, “I think they are both effective.”
Iran Hits Back at Trump’s ‘Economic D-Day’
Trump’s statement comes ahead of the six-month anniversary of the U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran, which falls on Friday. On Monday, Trump declared an “economic D-Day” against Iran, seeking to further cripple its already sanction-hit economy, while hesitating to return to full-scale war despite growing frustration with Tehran.
In response to Trump’s economic warfare, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei accused the US of “annihilating” international law and “systemic bullying.”
Qatar Leads Fresh Push For Talks, Netanyahu Doubts
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is visiting Iran on Thursday to de-escalate tensions between Tehran and Washington and help create conditions for dialogue. The visit comes after another oil tanker was reportedly struck in the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over navigation through the key energy corridor. Qatar also called for freedom of navigation and a return to the pre-February 28 status quo.
Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed skepticism about the possibility of a diplomatic deal with Iran, referring to the Iranian leaders as “savages.” Netanyahu backed Trump’s economic pressure campaign and said he had discussed a “third option” with Trump, praising Trump’s “very, very, very strong” approach, Arab News reported.
“I tell you — an agreement cannot be reached,” Netanyahu said.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
