Responding to a question regarding whether a blockade-like restriction on Iran would persist into September, President Trump said that a resolution could come sooner than expected.
“It could be, but I think it’s unlikely. I think this will resolve itself fairly quickly,” President Trump said, noting that the blockade of Iran could be lifted by Labour Day.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview on the ‘Pod Force One’ podcast released on Wednesday (June 3), the US President asserted that a foundational framework has been established regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.
“They’ve already agreed they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” he said, though he added a caveat that “now they can change their mind, but that was one of the things they’ve had to agree… That was the big thing.”
Reflecting on the origins of the military confrontation, President Trump stated, “I mean, I’m the one that started it. I don’t want to bore anybody, but I started it because we can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.” He also emphasised his stance on allied security, claiming, “There would be no Israel if there wasn’t me.”
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The US President also emphasised a preference for diplomatic and economic leverage over sustained military intervention to achieve Washington’s core objectives.
“We don’t need boots on the ground to achieve Iran aims,” President Trump stated. He described the current Iran situation as “rapidly evolving” and predicted a positive outcome, adding that gas prices will come down in the “not-too-distant future” when the conflict ends, which will leave the US with “very little inflation.”
Addressing the broader regional conflict, President Trump balanced his long-standing alliance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against growing frustration over ongoing military operations, confirming that the two leaders had engaged in a heated discussion.
While reaffirming that he maintains a good relationship with PM Netanyahu, President Trump explicitly criticised Israel’s military strategy, stating, “I was disturbed at Israel’s Netanyahu constantly fighting with Lebanon.”
When questioned about the logistics of the ongoing negotiations, he stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is participating in the back-and-forth and is “giving approval in talks.” The President noted that while he had “never thought of meeting any Iranian leaders” in the past, he “will probably meet with Iran’s Ayatollah at some point.”
President Trump acknowledged that communication with Tehran has been slowed because the religious leader is in seclusion following injuries reported during the opening wave of US-Israeli airstrikes.
Commenting on the Supreme Leader’s health and the widespread speculation surrounding his condition, Trump remarked, “He’s not doing great; he is missing a lot of different parts,” before adding, “Yeah, I’d like to meet him… and we probably will meet at some point, depending on how it all works out.”
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