President Donald Trump said Sunday that negotiations with Iran are progressing toward a potential agreement, with what he described as only minor sticking points remaining. Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, Trump characterized the talks as moving swiftly and suggested a resolution could come within days or weeks, though he stopped short of providing a firm timeline.
Trump framed the current military posture as a "military exercise" rather than a formal war, despite acknowledging that the United States maintains a naval blockade on Iran that he said costs the country between $400 million and $500 million daily. He described Iran's military capacity as severely degraded, claiming that the country's navy, air force, and anti-aircraft systems have been eliminated or rendered inoperable.
The president indicated he remains willing to resume military action if deal negotiations stall. When asked about his red line, Trump said that if he believed a deal would not materialize quickly enough, he would be prepared to "finish it out militarily." He noted that the loss of 13 American service members during the conflict was "too many," but maintained the casualty toll was comparatively low by historical standards.
Regarding troop levels, Trump indicated he sees no immediate pressure to withdraw the approximately 50,000 troops deployed to the region as part of Operation Epic Fury. He argued that maintaining their presence costs relatively little and provides strategic flexibility, stating he would keep them stationed there "until such time as we have a completion."
On the substance of negotiations, Trump said Iran has agreed in principle not to develop nuclear weapons, but he has insisted on broadening language to prevent Iran from acquiring or purchasing nuclear materials or weapons from other sources. He acknowledged this provision has faced some resistance, though he said Iran ultimately did not push back hard on the requirement.
Trump said he is negotiating with a new group of Iranian leaders who are "more rational" than previous decision-makers, effectively describing the change as "regime change." When pressed on whether he was referring to the son of the late Supreme Leader, Trump confirmed the younger Khamenei is part of the approval process, though he has not spoken directly with him.
Trump described the younger Khamenei as seriously injured but brave for continuing to engage in negotiations despite his condition. When asked where the Iranian leader is located or how he is doing, Trump declined to specify, saying only that "there's a good probability" he knows his whereabouts.
The president cited the stock market hitting 73 all-time highs during his time in office and predicted that oil prices would fall and markets would surge once a deal is finalized. He emphasized that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his paramount objective.
Trump defended the pace of negotiations against criticism that he had failed to secure a better deal immediately after withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. He argued that complex international negotiations require time and that three months of talks represented rapid progress compared to other historical examples. He noted that his predecessors and other countries had failed to address the Iranian nuclear threat, and that the original deal negotiated by the Obama administration was a "horrible deal" that amounted to "a path to a nuclear weapon."
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Trump is betting that displaying strength through military pressure will ultimately force Iran to capitulate on his terms, but his vagueness on timeline and the identity of his negotiating counterparts raises questions about whether a deal is actually as close as he claims."
Comments