Trump’s Remarks on Iran Ahead of Talks
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump stated on Friday that Iran holds no significant advantages in upcoming discussions with the United States, aside from its control of the vital Strait of Hormuz.
He expressed on his Truth Social platform, “The Iranians don’t seem to understand they have no cards to play, except for temporarily using global waterways for their advantage.” He emphasized, “The only reason they are still here is to negotiate!”
In another post, the 79-year-old President commented on Iran’s media skills, saying, “They handle the Fake News Media and public relations better than they handle battles!”
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage crucial for shipping, will be central to the peace talks scheduled to take place in Pakistan on Saturday. Although both countries agreed to reopen the channel following a two-week ceasefire declared on Tuesday, threats from Tehran have discouraged many ships from navigating through.
Trump criticized Iran’s efforts in managing oil passage, remarking, “They aren’t doing well with oil shipments, which is not what we agreed upon!”
His comments about Iran’s lack of leverage mirror his earlier remarks regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, when he stated in February that “you don’t have the cards” against Russia.
In a different development on Friday, Trump told the New York Post that U.S. warships are being equipped with advanced weaponry in case the negotiations fail. “We’re preparing the ships with the best ammunition—better than what we had before, and we performed exceptionally,” he shared during a phone interview. “If no agreement is reached, we’ll use them effectively.”
Earlier, in a somewhat vague social media message, Trump hinted at the “WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL RESET!!!”
Vice President JD Vance departed for Islamabad on Friday to lead the U.S. delegation in the upcoming talks, cautioning Iran not to engage in deceptive tactics. “We aim to have constructive negotiations,” Vance told reporters before leaving Joint Base Andrews. “If Iran is ready to negotiate sincerely, we’re open to that. If they try to manipulate us, they’ll find our team less accommodating.”
Alongside the Strait of Hormuz, significant issues include U.S. demands that Iran reduce its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and Iran’s interest in preventing further military actions from the U.S. and Israel.
