President Trump reiterated his strong stance on Iran while en route to a summit with China’s Xi Jinping, asserting that Iran is under control and emphasizing the US’s commitment to preventing its nuclear armament.
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US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran as he heads to China for a two-day summit with President Xi Jinping. Addressing reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said that the conflict in the Middle East was under control. “We have Iran very much under control. We’re either going to make a deal or they’re going to be decimated,” the US President added.
Asked if Xi needs to intervene in Iran, Trump said, “I don’t think we need any help with Iran. We’ll win it one way or the other. We’ll win it peacefully or otherwise. Their Navy is gone. Their Air Force is gone. Every single element of their war machine is gone.”
“It’s very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon… We don’t play games. They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” he added
Meanwhile, Iran’s government showed no sign of backing down from its hard-line stance. Kazem Gharibabadi, a deputy foreign minister, posted on X that Iran’s position was that any peace deal must include reparations for Iran, Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and an end to US sanctions.
The comments come as the month-old ceasefire looked increasingly fragile with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth telling Congress on Tuesday that the “United States had a plan to escalate, if necessary.”
Trump has said that he wants a swift end to the war and a reopening of the strait. The President has also brushed aside economic concerns, saying: “As soon as this war is over, which will not be long, you’re going to see oil prices drop.” He added that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will bring a “gusher of oil.” What matters more than oil prices, he said, is that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. They will not have a nuclear weapon.”
The war in Iran has led to higher prices for Americans, and data released on Tuesday morning says that inflation rose to 3.8% last month.
Trump also laid out his plan to discuss the Iran war with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We’re going to have a long talk about it. I think he’s been relatively good, to be honest with you. You look at the blockade, no problem. They get a lot of their oil from that area. We’ve had no problem,” Trump said.
