U.S. President Donald Trump has firmly ruled out a ceasefire with Iran, stating that Tehran is seeking a deal but that the United States is not ready to discuss one at this stage.
In an interview with NBC News on Saturday evening, Trump declared:
“Iran wants to conclude a deal, and I don’t want to conclude it because the conditions are not good enough yet.”
He stressed that the time has not yet come to halt hostilities, prioritizing the securing of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global oil.
“We will sweep the Strait of Hormuz with great vigor, and we are convinced that we will be joined by other countries that are somewhat hindered and in some cases, prevented from accessing oil,”
he added. On Saturday, via a post on Truth Social, Trump urged nations dependent on this maritime route to act to reopen it, while promising “considerable assistance” from Washington. According to him, the United States has already “defeated and completely decimated” Iran militarily and economically.
Trump also commented on rumors about the death of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, dismissing them as “rumor.”
“I don’t even know if he’s alive. So far, no one has been able to show him. I hear he’s no longer alive, and if he is, he should do something very smart for his country: surrender,” he said.
