US President Donald Trump said Friday Iran wants an agreement with the United States but is not yet prepared to accept terms he considers necessary.
“They would love to make a deal, but they are not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. “We’re seeing what happens. They have no money. They have no navy. They have no air force. They’re not paying their soldiers. They’re not paying their police. They have 350% inflation,” Trump was quoted by official as saying.
In the same speech, he also boasted control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Trump said, “‘I view Strait of Hormuz as an AMERICAN territory RIGHT NOW. It’s an American territory.”
“We have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz, and that means well into it, the land areas. So, they would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion,” Trump said.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected that premise Friday, saying Trump’s campaign was “bound to fail” like previous rounds of US pressure.
“14 years ago: ‘Most crippling sanctions in history.’ Failed. 8 years ago: ‘Maximum pressure.’ Failed. 5 months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender.’ Failed. Today: ‘Most crushing economic operation ever.’ Bound to fail,” Araghchi wrote on X. “We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,” he added.
China on the contrary, refused to involve in the US sanction program saying sanctions do not “fit the interest of any party.” Earlier this week, Trump vowed “tremendous economic consequences” for countries that do business with Tehran. But the US has little leverage over China.