Newsletters
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would rather reach a diplomatic agreement with Iran than resort to military force, though he cautioned that the option of an attack has not been taken off the table.
Speaking at an event in Las Vegas, Trump said his preference was to avoid bloodshed. "I'd rather make a deal because I don't want to kill people," he said.
Trump said his administration had been prepared to launch what he described as the "biggest attack since World War II," but that the plans were paused after Iranian officials reached out requesting negotiations.
He said Iranian representatives had asked him to hold off, quoting them as saying, "Please don't do it. Let's talk."
He added that Iranian officials had since denied making that appeal, saying, "They say, 'We never said that.'" Trump dismissed the denial, saying, "The fake news knows they did say that, but we are talking." He said the fact that talks were ongoing was a sign that "they respect us."
2 min read
Trump reiterated that Iran cannot be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon, restating a position that has anchored his approach to Tehran throughout his time in office.
Iran's nuclear program has long been a central point of friction between the two countries, with Washington and its allies for years pressing Tehran to curb uranium enrichment activities they say could be used toward weapons development, a claim Iran has consistently denied, maintaining its program is intended for peaceful purposes.
Trump did not elaborate on the current state or format of the negotiations, saying only, "Let's see what happens." His remarks left open whether a broader diplomatic agreement was near or whether tensions could still escalate toward military confrontation.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
