WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that any deal with Iran would be reached only when it is “appropriate and good” for the United States, “our Allies and, in fact, the rest of the World”.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was under no pressure to conclude an agreement with Iran and insisted that time was on Washington’s side.
His remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts by Pakistan to facilitate a second round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran, following the first round of talks in Islamabad earlier this month.
Trump said he had “all the time in the world” while Iran faced increasing constraints. He added that “the clock is ticking” for Tehran.
The US President also claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded, asserting that its navy and air force had been significantly weakened and that key defence systems were no longer operational.
He further said the blockade imposed on Iranian ports remained “airtight and strong”.
Trump criticised sections of the US media, accusing them of lacking credibility and misrepresenting his position on the conflict. He said reports suggesting he was “anxious” to reach a deal with Iran were inaccurate.
US Navy to ‘shoot’ mine-laying boats in Hormuz
Earlier today, Trump said he had ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill” any small boats laying mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be, that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The US President added that “there is to be no hesitation” and claimed that US mine sweepers were already clearing the waterway.
Trump said the operation to secure the strait would continue at an intensified pace. “I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled-up level,” he wrote.
No vessel can pass through Hormuz without US approval
In a separate post, Trump said Iran was “having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is”, describing internal divisions between “hardliners” and “moderates”.
He also claimed that the United States “controls” the Strait of Hormuz and that no vessel could pass without US Navy approval.
US intercepts Iranian oil vessel
Meanwhile, the US Department of War said American forces had intercepted and boarded a vessel transporting oil from Iran in the Indian Ocean.
In a statement posted on X, the department said US forces conducted a “maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding” of the sanctioned, stateless vessel M/T Majestic X within the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.
“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” the department said.
It added that international waters could not be used as a shield by sanctioned actors and pledged to deny such vessels freedom of manoeuvre.
Pakistan continues efforts to resume US-Iran talks
Trump’s remarks come as Pakistan continued diplomatic efforts to sustain the ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Earlier this week, Trump said Washington had agreed, at the request of Pakistan, to extend the ceasefire with Iran and delay military action to allow time for negotiations.
However, no deadline has been set for a proposal or talks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Pakistan has been attempting to bring back both Washington and Tehran to the negotiation table after planned talks in Islamabad failed to take place before the expiry of a two-week ceasefire.
The first round of high-stakes US-Iran talks in Islamabad held earlier this month also ended without agreement. However, the Islamabad Talks paved the way for further negotiations and diplomacy to end the conflict through dialogue.
