Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, Trump said, “They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly.” He did not identify who from the Iranian side had made the contact or provide further details.
Trump added that he remained sceptical about any potential agreement, saying, “I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem.”
His remarks came after the United States launched fresh strikes on Iranian targets, saying the action was in response to recent Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump warned of further military action if such attacks continued, writing on Truth Social, “This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!”
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes were aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported explosions in several coastal locations, while Iranian officials vowed to respond.
When asked whether he was aware of any credible Iranian threat against Air Force One, Trump replied, “I have a threat all the time. I’m number one on their list.”
Trump also referred to the recent India-Pakistan military conflict, claiming it was close to escalating into a nuclear war. He said, “That war was going to go nuclear.” Trump further claimed that Pakistan’s prime minister had told him he had “saved 30 to 50 million lives,” before adding, “Well, guess what? It could have been a lot more than that.”
Trump’s claims about preventing a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan have not been independently verified, and India has repeatedly maintained that the understanding to halt military action was reached through direct military-level talks between the two countries, without third-party mediation.
(WIth input from agencies)