President Trump stated that hostilities with Iran ‘have terminated’ in a letter sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson, even as he previously threatened to ‘blast the hell’ out of Iran.
Donald Trump declared on Friday night that he is “not satisfied” with the deals proposed by Tehran to date, hinting that “maybe we’re better off not making a deal.”
“They want to make a deal, I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump informed reporters on Friday.
Later that evening, at an event hosted by the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, Trump pondered whether he even desired to finalize an agreement. “I’m so busy with the Iranians calling trying to make a good deal and we’re not going to let that happen. They’ve got to make a bad deal. Maybe we’re better off not making a deal at all,” he asserted.
Despite extensive discussions about potential deals and ongoing negotiations, Trump dispatched a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday, proclaiming that the “hostilities that began on Saturday, Feb. 28 have terminated.” This communication effectively circumvents a 60-day deadline the president faced, which mandated congressional approval to prolong the conflict with Iran. President Trump further stated, “Despite the success of United States operations against the Iranian regime and continued efforts to secure a lasting peace, the threat posed by Iran to the United States and our Armed Forces remains significant.”
This development follows the US president’s earlier remarks to reporters, where he expressed being “not happy” with Iran’s latest peace proposal, presenting options to either “blast them away or make a deal.”
Key Points
- White House considers Iran war ‘terminated’
- Briefing: What we know on the 63rd day of US-Israel war on Iran
- Trump receives high-level briefing on fresh military options against Iran – report
- Trump administration claims hostilities ‘terminated’ ahead of war powers deadline
- Iranian president says US blockade of ports ‘doomed to fail’
- Hegseth grilled in Congress over Iran war
Trump Questions Iran Deal: President Donald Trump reiterated on Friday his dissatisfaction with Iran’s proposed deals, stating, “maybe we’re better off not making a deal” with Tehran. He emphasized that Iran “wants to make a deal,” but he remains “not satisfied with it.”
Regional Developments: Meanwhile, friends and relatives mourned Sergeant Liem Ben Hamo, who, according to the Israeli army, was killed in combat in southern Lebanon.
Economic Pressure on Iran: Pentagon officials informed Axios on Friday that the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in a $4.8 billion loss in oil revenue for Iran. Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez stated, “The United States’ blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is operating with full force and delivering the decisive impact we intended. We are inflicting a devastating blow to the Iranian regime’s ability to fund terrorism and regional destabilization.” He affirmed that US Armed Forces would “continue to maintain this unrelenting pressure.”
Trump’s Cuba Remark: President Trump seemingly joked about the US “taking over” Cuba “almost immediately” after the Iran conflict. Speaking at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, he mentioned a friend from Cuba, adding, “which we will be taking over almost immediately.” He elaborated, “We’ll finish one first, I like to finish the job,” referring to Iran, then suggested the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier could facilitate a swift takeover of Cuba on the return journey from the Middle East.
Claims on Iran’s Military Capacity: Trump also claimed to supporters in Florida that the US military has destroyed “85 percent” of Iran’s missile manufacturing capacity and “most” of its drone capacity. He acknowledged, however, that Iran still possesses “some missiles left” and “some missile making capacity left,” along with “some drone capacity left.”
Commitment to Iran: Trump indicated that the US “could leave [Iran] right now,” but he intends to remain to “do it totally right,” suggesting that an immediate withdrawal would leave Iran needing “20 years, 25 years, to rebuild the place.”
Military Use in Second Term: Taking credit for rebuilding the military in his first term, Trump remarked he “didn’t know I’d be using it as much my second term,” but affirmed that “certain things have to be done.”
‘Like Pirates’ Remark: Describing the seizure of an Iranian cargo ship attempting to bypass the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump likened the US military to “pirates.” He stated, “We took over the cargo. Took over the oil, a very profitable business. Who would have thought we were doing that were like pirates… But we’re not playing games.”
Iran’s Leadership: Trump asserted that Iran is the “only country” where “nobody wants to be a leader,” claiming the US military had eliminated “multiple tiers” of its leadership, making it difficult to identify a negotiating partner. The article notes, however, that Iran has a president, Masoud Pezeshkian, elected in 2024.
Nuclear Weapon Warning: Finally, Trump warned against allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, insisting Tehran would “use it on a place called Israel very quickly,” then in the Middle East, Europe, and subsequently against the US.
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