US President Donald Trump on Thursday said Iran was “begging” for a deal to end the war, while warning of more strikes if Tehran did not abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Speaking during the first cabinet meeting at the White House since the start of the conflict, Trump said Iran was now trying to negotiate after weeks of fighting.
“They are begging to make a deal, not me. They’re begging to make a deal,” Trump said while describing them as “lousy fighters” but “great negotiators.”
But he also suggested the window for diplomacy may be closing and indicated Washington may no longer be willing to move forward with an agreement. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that,” he said of the prospects for a deal. I don’t know if we’re willing to do that.”
At the same time, Trump warned Iran to change course or face more military action.
“They now have the chance, that is Iran, to permanently abandon their nuclear ambitions and to join a new path forward,” Trump said. “We’ll see if they want to do it. If they don’t, we’re their worst nightmare. In the meantime, we’ll just keep blowing them away.”
Trump also said US military operations against Iran are “extremely” ahead of schedule, citing an original timeframe of four to six weeks for the war that began nearly a month ago.
“We estimated it would take approximately four to six weeks to achieve our mission. Twenty-six days in we’re extremely, really, a lot ahead of schedule,” said Trump.
Earlier in the day, Trump also warned Tehran on social media to “get serious soon” about negotiating an end to the war. The post came a day after he said a deal was near, despite Tehran’s dismissal of his 15-point ceasefire plan.
On Thursday, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Washington’s proposal to end nearly four weeks of fighting was “one-sided and unfair,” though diplomacy was continuing.
Meanwhile, the United States was preparing for the arrival of thousands of troops that could potentially be used on the ground in Iran.
The war has continued to exact a heavy toll across the region. The death toll has risen to more than 1,900 people in Iran and nearly 1,100 in Lebanon, with dozens more killed in Israel and elsewhere in the region. Thirteen US military members have also died, while millions of people in Iran and Lebanon have been displaced.
