Trump weighs Iran deal, warns of possible return to strikes
US president says proposal wording pending as Tehran suggests Hormuz access
Florida: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had been briefed on the concept of a possible deal with Iran but was awaiting the exact wording, while warning that military strikes could resume if Tehran “misbehaves.”
A senior Iranian official said on Saturday that an Iranian proposal, so far rejected by Trump, would involve opening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and ending the U.S. blockade of Iran, while deferring talks on Iran’s nuclear programme to a later stage.
The official said the proposal includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the U.S. embargo, while postponing nuclear negotiations.
Asked about the proposal before leaving West Palm Beach, Florida, for Miami, Trump said: “Tell me about the idea of the agreement. They will give me the exact wording now.”
He later wrote on social media that he could not imagine the proposal being acceptable, saying Iran had not yet paid a high enough price for its actions.
Questioned about the possibility of resuming attacks on Iran, Trump said: “I don’t want to say that. I can’t say that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad, then we’ll see. But it’s a possibility.”
Trump has repeatedly said Iran will not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. On Friday, he said he was not satisfied with the latest Iranian proposal.
He also said on Saturday that, from a humanitarian standpoint, he did not favour military action against Iran, and told congressional leaders he did not need their approval to extend the conflict beyond the legal deadline on Friday, adding that the ceasefire had “ended” the hostilities.