31/05/2026
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31/05/2026
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WASHINGTON, May 31: US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran are moving forward but warned that Washington could pursue other options if an agreement is not reached, according to an interview aired by Fox News on Saturday.
Trump said he was not rushing to finalize a deal, arguing that successful negotiations require patience.
“I’d like to say I’m in a hurry because gasoline prices are going to come tumbling down, but if you are in a hurry you’re not going to make a good deal,” he said. “And if we do not get what we want, we are going to end it a different way.”
The US president said the primary objective of the talks remains ensuring that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons. He claimed Tehran had agreed not only to refrain from developing a nuclear weapon but also from acquiring one through other means.
Trump described the distinction as a significant development in the negotiations.
“They originally said we will not develop a nuclear weapon,” he said. “I said, well, what happens if you buy a nuclear weapon? So now it says we will not develop or in any way purchase a military weapon. That's a big difference.”
He added that while negotiations were moving slowly, the United States was gradually securing its objectives and that he preferred a diplomatic agreement over other options.
Trump also suggested that a deal could lead to the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “I would rather get a deal, because we can open the Strait immediately upon signing.”
Addressing the aftermath of recent US military operations against Iran, Trump said Washington had deliberately avoided destroying much of Iran’s conventional military structure while targeting other parts of the country's leadership and military capabilities.
“Their navy is totally gone, 100%. Their air force is totally gone, 100%,” Trump said. “Their military, we sort of left it alone, because we think that their military is somewhat moderate.”
He said the United States had focused on removing specific leadership elements rather than dismantling the entire military, arguing that past conflicts demonstrated the risks of leaving a country unable to rebuild.
“We've taken different forms of leadership out, we've actually left their military alone,” Trump said. “Mistakes have been made in wars where you wipe out everybody, and then you have a country that for 40 years can never rebuild. You look at what happened with Iraq.”
