President Trump on Wednesday said Iran is running on “fumes” and will be forced to make a peace deal with the U.S. before its economy completely crumbles.
Mr. Trump, speaking at a Cabinet meeting, said he’s not satisfied with Tehran’s offers to date. He said the regime will have to come around to his terms or face devastating strikes.
“They’re negotiating on fumes. We’ll see what happens,” he said. “Maybe we have to go back and finish it, maybe we don’t.”
Mr. Trump appraised the situation as negotiators work with mediators in Pakistan and Qatar to hammer out a lasting peace to the war that began on Feb. 28.
The president’s goal is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Iranian state media said Wednesday that Tehran received an initial draft of a 14-point framework for a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. that would facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
SEE ALSO: Trump warns Oman to ‘behave’ or face attack, says Strait of Hormuz must be open
The deal’s details include a full lifting of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and a withdrawal of military forces from Iran’s territory, according to Iranian broadcaster IRIB.
Under the framework, commercial shipping in the strait would return to normal within a month, while thornier issues around Iran’s nuclear program would be negotiated later.
The White House swiftly decried the proposal as a fabrication and said no one should trust state-controlled media in Iran.
Mr. Trump repeated his belief that Iran wants to make a good deal.
“So far, they haven’t gotten there. We aren’t satisfied with it, but we will be,” he said. “Either that, or we’ll just have to finish the job.”
Some prominent Republicans are urging Mr. Trump to resume his military campaign against Iran, saying the U.S. must finish what it started and gain leverage over the regime.
SEE ALSO: Iran says pending framework deal with U.S. would reopen Strait of Hormuz
The president has signaled he wants a diplomatic solution and won’t be cajoled into rushing the deal. He said Iran’s economy is in free fall, putting greater pressure on Tehran than the U.S., even though gas prices are up and Republicans are fretting about the midterm elections.
“I don’t care about the midterms; look what happened last night,” Mr. Trump said, referring to primary election wins for his preferred candidates.
“It looks like [the Iranians] just want to make a deal,” he added. “I don’t think they have a choice.”
Cabinet officials echoed Mr. Trump during the White House meeting.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said diplomacy is the preferred route with Iran.
“We’ll see over the next few hours and days if progress can be made,” Mr. Rubio said, before telling the president: “You have other options available if that doesn’t work.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports is airtight and choking off the regime’s ability to export oil and raise revenue.
“Their economy is hurtin’ big-time,” Mr. Hegseth said.
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