Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he was considering his next move in the Iran war, warning that “very big things” could happen soon if Tehran failed to comply with his demands.
The remarks came after Iran said it had passed its conditions to the United States through mediators as part of efforts to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump spoke ahead of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s anticipated trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, as reported by Hindustan Times. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Pezeshkian would likely be accompanied by a senior delegation.
Trump Weighs Next Move
Speaking in a reported conversation with Fox News, Trump said he was in “deciding mode” over the conflict and warned of major developments in the near future if the Iranian leadership did not “behave”.
“My question is, if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They had better behave,” he said.
Trump reportedly identified three possible courses of action: “wiping Iran out”, allowing the country to “rot economically”, or negotiating an agreement.
He also addressed the situation involving Yemen’s Houthi rebels, saying the United States was still communicating with the group after its recent ballistic-missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Trump said the Houthis had agreed not to target American personnel.
Possible Trump-Pezeshkian Meeting
Trump was asked whether he would be willing to meet Pezeshkian during the Iranian president’s visit to the US for the UN General Assembly.
He said he would “probably be open” to holding talks with Pezeshkian, who is expected to meet and consult leaders from several countries on the sidelines of the annual UN gathering.
Tehran Lists Demands
Iran has conveyed seven conditions to Washington through Qatar for restarting negotiations intended to end the war, the country’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Sunday.
Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, had said a day earlier that Tehran had submitted its demands through Qatar, which is serving as an intermediary.
“Our conditions are an end to the war on all fronts, the release of our frozen funds and an end to the naval blockade,” he told Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, Iran’s central military command said on Sunday that it had received intelligence indicating that the United States, backed by several regional countries, was preparing for another operation against Tehran.
The command warned that nations supporting Washington would be regarded as collaborators in the “mischief” and “could no longer expect restraint from the powerful Iranian Armed Forces.”