By Emmanuel Bobby
President Donald Trump said Saturday he is not prepared to make a deal to end the war with Iran, despite signals that Tehran may be open to negotiations, arguing that the proposed terms are “not good enough yet.” He declined to specify what conditions would need to be met for an agreement.
In a nearly 30-minute telephone interview, Trump also said the United States is coordinating with other countries on a plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for global oil supplies, as energy prices climb amid the conflict. The president brushed aside concerns from Americans about rising gasoline prices following the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation launched two weeks ago.
Trump also questioned whether Iran’s newly named supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “even alive.”
Trump Says Iran Deal Terms Not Yet Acceptable
Trump said he would not pursue a peace deal with Iran at this stage.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” he said, adding that any agreement must include “very solid” conditions.
When asked what those terms might include, Trump declined to provide details but indicated that Iran abandoning its nuclear ambitions entirely would likely be part of the arrangement.
The remarks come amid reports that the administration had set aside attempts to advance negotiations to end the war.
The conflict began last month when U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes inside Iran. Tehran retaliated with attacks against Israel and U.S. targets in nearby countries. Thirteen active-duty American service members have died since the fighting began, including six crew members who died Friday after a military refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.
Administration officials have offered varying timelines for the campaign, with Trump at times suggesting the conflict could last a month or longer while also saying the U.S. is “way ahead of the timetable.”
He said the United States has already destroyed most of Iran’s missile and drone capabilities and claimed additional strikes could eliminate remaining threats within days.
Efforts to Secure the Strait of Hormuz
Trump said he is asking several countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large portion of the world’s oil shipments pass.
“They’ve not only committed, but they think it’s a great idea,” he said, though he declined to identify the countries involved.
In a social media post, Trump suggested nations such as China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom could join the effort to keep the passage open.
The president said the U.S. would conduct strong security sweeps in the strait and acknowledged that naval escorts for commercial vessels are a possibility, though he declined to confirm whether the U.S. Navy would implement such a program.
Trump also confirmed that U.S. forces carried out strikes on Kharg Island, a strategic Iranian oil export hub. He said the island was “totally demolished,” though energy infrastructure was intentionally spared because rebuilding it would take years.
Trump Questions Status of Iran’s New Supreme Leader
Trump also cast doubt on whether Mojtaba Khamenei, who was recently named Iran’s supreme leader after the death of his father Ali Khamenei, is alive.
“I don’t know if he’s even alive. So far, nobody’s been able to show him,” Trump said, noting that the new leader released only a written statement rather than appearing on video.
The statement vowed to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz and attacking U.S. allies in the region.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously said the younger Khamenei had been wounded and suggested his written message reflected weakness.
Iran’s Regional Attacks Surprise the White House
Trump said he was surprised that Iran expanded its retaliation to include attacks on other Middle Eastern countries.
He praised regional partners such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, saying they had been supportive despite coming under attack.
Iran has launched drones toward several countries in the region, including Bahrain and Kuwait, targeting oil infrastructure and government facilities.
Iraqi officials also reported that an Iranian strike hit a helipad inside a U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Saturday.
Trump Dismisses Concerns About Rising Gas Prices
Trump brushed off concerns that rising fuel prices could hurt Republicans politically ahead of midterm elections.
“I think they’ll go lower than they were before, and I had them at record lows,” he said, predicting prices would drop after the war ends.
Gas prices in the United States averaged $2.94 per gallon on March 1, the day after the U.S. and Israel began strikes on Iran, according to GasBuddy. By Saturday, the average had risen to $3.66.
“I’m not concerned at all,” Trump said. “The only thing I want to do is make sure that Iran can never be the bully of the Middle East again.”
Trump Criticizes Zelenskyy and Discusses Russia
Trump also criticized Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian president has been more difficult to negotiate with than Vladimir Putin regarding efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
“I’m surprised that Zelenskyy doesn’t want to make a deal,” Trump said, adding that Putin appears willing to negotiate.
Zelenskyy had recently offered to help the United States and its allies intercept Iranian drones using expertise developed during Ukraine’s war with Russia. Trump said such help was unnecessary.
The president also addressed reports that Russia might be sharing intelligence with Iran about the location of U.S. forces.
“Russia is perhaps giving information, perhaps they’re not,” he said, noting that the United States has shared some information with Ukraine while trying to mediate peace between Moscow and Kyiv.
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