Trump says renewed U.S. strikes on Iran are “highly unlikely” if talks progress
In a CNN interview Sunday, President Trump said renewed U.S. strikes on Iran are “highly unlikely” as long as negotiations progress and Iran signs “a very strong agreement,” while saying U.S. forces are ready. Secretary of State Rubio said talks are not on the verge of a breakthrough. Iran lifted a self-imposed missile-range limit.
Bias breakdown and outlet coverageon the RUSH story page →What Trump said
CNN reported that Trump said in a phone interview with Jim Sciutto that it is “highly unlikely” he will need to order the U.S. back to war with Iran as long as negotiations are progressing, repeating the phrase five times. “It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said. He added, “We’re ready for it,” saying three aircraft carriers in the region are “fully locked and loaded.” CNN reported that he said the U.S. has identified infrastructure targets, including bridges, but would prefer not to destroy them.
Breitbart reported that Trump also said on “60 Minutes” that the two sides had been close to a deal before the midterms, saying, “We would’ve had a deal, except for this election,” and that he is “not looking to” escalate. Trump’s figures on Iran’s inflation and weapons production are his own claims; RUSH has not independently verified them.
The state of the talks
CNN described a stalemate eight months into the war, with little military action or diplomatic progress, and said Iranian hardliners have pointed to the midterm results as a sign of a weakened president. Breitbart reported that Rubio said, “I wouldn’t say we’re at the verge of a breakthrough” and called Tehran’s demands “outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic.” It reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran’s two-day proposal stands, and that Trump was scheduled to meet Qatar’s prime minister at the White House on Monday. Qatar has been a key mediator.
Pressure from both sides
CNN reported that the U.S. military launched a task force to block Iran from moving weapons and other materials over land routes. Fox News reported that Iran lifted its self-imposed ballistic missile-range limit and threatened new weapons that would “astonish the entire world,” within hours of the task force’s launch.
Why this matters
The statements point in two directions: Trump says military action is unlikely if talks progress, while both governments are raising pressure. Rubio said talks are not at the verge of a breakthrough.