US President Donald Trump said that Iran had been asking him for talks and then lying publicly about ongoing negotiations in an interview on Wednesday morning.
Trump revealed that the United States had been prepared to launch what he described as a massive military operation before deciding to pursue diplomacy.
“We were going to a tremendous attack, the biggest since World War II, and they called me and said, very politely, ‘Please, can we talk?’ They didn’t want [the attack], and I said, ‘Yes. We can talk. Let’s get it done. Finally, let’s get it done.’”
Trump also accused Iranian officials of publicly denying contacts with Washington despite having all-day talks on Tuesday.
“They don’t like to admit that. You tell people we’re having wonderful discussions, and then some guy will come out of Iran and say, ‘We have not met.’ They’ll say, ‘We didn’t talk about nuclear.’ Well, what did we talk about? We’re sitting there twiddling our thumbs, right?”
Trump reiterated that Tehran would not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, adding that one way or another the Strait of Hormuz would open soon.
“Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. They already can’t, but it’s going to be formal,” he said.
Iranian state media, citing an informed source, said the Strait of Hormuz agreement with Oman would be delayed as long as the US continued to threaten Iran.
Asked what would happen if Iran withdrew from the current talks, Trump warned, “If they back out again, they’re going to get hit really hard. They know that. They understand that.”
“I have no choice. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple,” he added.
Trump criticizes Obama Iran deal, claims military pressure brought Tehran to talks
Trump also criticized former president Barack Obama, accusing him of attempting to “bribe” Iran.
“Obama was taken to the cleaners. He thought he could bribe his way out. He gave them billions, tens of billions of dollars so stupidly. $1.7 billion in cash, green cash, on a Boeing 757.”
The president insisted that military pressure had brought Tehran back to the negotiating table.
“You can’t bribe your way out. All you can do is fight your way out. If we weren’t doing what we’re doing, they wouldn’t be talking.”
While emphasizing that military options remain available, Trump said he hoped they would not be necessary.
“We hit them very, very hard. But the hard hit is yet to come, and hopefully we won’t have to use it. I hope we won’t have to. We’re having very good discussions.”
“The only thing that matters is action, and they want to make a deal. We’ll see what happens. If they don’t make a deal, it’s going to be too bad. And we have much more on Iran coming up,” he said.