Trump, after signaling deal was imminent, says he will not ‘rush’ deal with Iran
A day after he announced a deal with Iran was in its final stages, President Donald Trump said his administration will not rush negotiations.
In a post to Truth Social on Sunday, Trump criticized the Obama-era Iran Nuclear Deal and reiterated that a deal must not allow Iran to have nuclear capabilities.
“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” Trump said.
He added that though the U.S.’s relationship with Iran is becoming “much more professional and productive,” the U.S. naval blockade will continue until a deal is signed.
After the U.S. launched strikes at Iran in February, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, the Trump administration refused to commit to a timeline for the conflict but frequently indicated a desire to end it quickly and avoid “endless” war. On Saturday, nearly three months after the initial Feb. 28 strike and following weeks of back-and-forth negotiations that left stakeholders reeling, Trump announced a near-finalized deal with Iran and several Middle Eastern intermediaries. He offered few details but said the agreement would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a major priority for the White House and its allies after Iran closed the critical waterway, sparking disruptions to global energy markets and commercial shipping traffic.
Trump on Sunday thanked the intermediaries who assisted with negotiations, saying their support and cooperation “will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the Nations of the historic Abraham Accords and, who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join, as well!”
Trump’s efforts to make a deal have been met with pushback, both from Democrats and members of his own party.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) on Sunday called the deal a “blunder,” telling “Fox News Sunday” the U.S. is in no better position than before the war began, while Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told CNN’s “State of the Union” the deal “doesn’t make sense” and that Trump had received bad advice from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
المصدر: Politico