Trump Voices Frustration Over Iran Nuclear Negotiations, Calls for Substantial Agreement
In a public address delivered on Friday, US President Donald Trump openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of negotiations with Iran, firmly stating that he is "not happy" with the progress. During his speech to a gathering in Texas, Trump emphasized that any potential deal with Tehran must be "meaningful" and explicitly require Iran to declare it will not develop nuclear weapons.
Trump's Stern Remarks on Iran's Behavior and Negotiation Stance
"Now we have a big decision to make. You know that. It is not easy. We have a very big decision to make," Trump declared, referencing the complex diplomatic situation. He went on to criticize Iran's historical actions, alleging, "We have a country that has, for 47 years, been blowing people's legs off, arms off, the face. They've been knocking out ships, killing people — lots of people. Well, not only Americans, lots of people. It's been terrible."
Trump further claimed, "32,000 people killed over the last two, three months — protesters. That's a number of people. They want to make a deal, but you’ve got to make a deal that's meaningful." He mentioned consulting with political figures like Ted Cruz on the matter, reiterating the necessity for a substantial agreement.
Military Actions and Diplomatic Preferences
The President highlighted recent US military actions, noting, "We hit them real hard, as you know, with those beautiful B-2 bombers recently, knocked out their nuclear capability." However, Trump indicated a preference for peaceful resolution, stating, "But I'd rather do it the peaceful way. But they're very difficult people. I want to tell you that. They're very dangerous people, very difficult people."
Context of Ongoing Geneva Talks and Regional Tensions
These comments follow the third round of negotiations between Iran and the United States, which took place in Geneva on Thursday. The latest round of talks is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington. This occurs against a backdrop of significant US military build-up in the Middle East, with several countries advising their citizens to leave Iran due to concerns over potential US strikes.
Earlier Statements Reinforce Displeasure
Earlier in the day, Trump had similarly expressed his discontent, saying he is "not exactly happy" with Iran's handling of the negotiations over its nuclear programme. He stressed, "They cannot have nuclear weapons. And we're not thrilled with the way they're negotiating. So we'll see how it all works."
Trump elaborated, "I am not happy with the fact that they are not willing to give us what we have to have. I'm not thrilled with that. We'll see what happens. We'll have some additional talks today. But, no, I'm not happy with the way they're going." He confirmed that no final decision has been made regarding Iran, leaving the outcome of the negotiations uncertain.
