US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Iran has expressed willingness to negotiate a deal to end the ongoing conflict, but he is unwilling to agree to a ceasefire as the terms are “not good enough.”
The remarks come amid escalating strikes in the Middle East and rising global energy concerns.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump confirmed that Iran wants to negotiate a deal to halt hostilities. However, he stressed that any agreement must be “very solid,” and declined to disclose specifics, though he hinted that Iran’s complete abandonment of certain military capabilities would be required.
“The terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said, indicating that negotiations are possible but not imminent.
Strait of Hormuz
Trump also addressed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil shipments. He said the US is coordinating with “numerous countries affected by the thuggery of Iran” to ensure the waterway remains open, without specifying all participating nations.
In a separate post on Truth Social, he suggested that China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom could contribute warships to protect shipping lanes amid rising oil prices. Iran has vowed to keep the strait closed, further inflating global energy costs.
US Strikes on Kharg Island
Trump reiterated that US forces had conducted strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, targeting military facilities while preserving oil infrastructure. “We totally demolished Kharg Island, but we may hit it a few more times just for fun,” he said. He noted that pipelines were left intact to allow reconstruction over time.
The US president also raised questions about the status of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not made a public appearance following his appointment after the death of his father, Ayatollah Khamenei, during initial strikes.
“I don’t know if he’s even alive. So far, nobody’s been able to show him,” Trump said.
Iran rejects ceasefire calls
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire, telling NBC News that the country must continue fighting for the safety of its people.
“The U.S. and Israel are killing our people, attacking hospitals, targeting schools,” Araghchi said. He emphasized that only a permanent end to the war would satisfy Tehran, rejecting temporary ceasefire measures.
Reports suggest Russia is providing intelligence support to Iran, helping locate US military forces in the Middle East, including warships. Araghchi acknowledged ongoing cooperation between Iran and Russia but declined to confirm whether this included specific targeting information.
