Washington: US President Donald Trump has rejected a potential deal with Iran to end the ongoing conflict, saying the proposed terms were “not good enough yet”, even as he called on countries around the world to deploy naval forces to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and keep global oil shipments moving. In a wide-ranging telephone interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said Iran had signalled interest in negotiations but insisted Washington would not rush into a ceasefire agreement while the war continues.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said. The President also confirmed in the NBC interview that US forces had carried out strikes on Kharg Island, a strategic Iranian oil export hub.
“We totally demolished Kharg Island, but we may hit it a few more times just for fun,” Trump said.
Asked what the terms of a possible agreement would include, the president declined to elaborate. “I don’t want to say that to you,” he said, though he suggested that abandoning nuclear ambitions would likely be central to any deal.
The remarks came as the war between the US, Israel, and Iran entered its third week, with fighting spreading across the Middle East and global energy markets shaken by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the US is urging countries affected by disruptions to oil shipments to help secure the strategic waterway.
“They’ve not only committed, but they think it’s a great idea,” Trump said when asked about possible international participation.
Earlier in the day, Trump also appealed publicly for a multinational effort to protect the route.
In a Truth Social post, he wrote that “Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.”
He added that he hoped nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK would deploy naval vessels to the area.
The Strait of Hormuz is widely regarded as the world’s most critical oil shipping lane, carrying a large share of global crude exports.
