U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran on Tuesday to “do the smart thing” and make a deal, saying even as a West Asia ceasefire teetered, that he did not want to kill more Iranians.
“They should do the smart thing, because we don’t want to go in and kill people. Really don’t,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about Iran. “I don’t want to, it’s too tough.”
He also dismissed Iran’s military capability and said that Tehran “should wave the white flag of surrender”, but is too proud to do so. Iran’s military has been reduced to firing “peashooters”, and that Tehran privately wants to make a deal despite its public sabre-rattling, he said.
“They play games, but let me just tell you, they want to make a deal. And who wouldn’t, when your military is totally gone?” he said.
Mr. Trump heaped praise on the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the region. “It’s like a piece of steel. Nobody’s going to challenge the blockade. And I think it’s working out very well,” he said.
When asked what Iran would need to do to violate the ceasefire, Mr. Trump said, “Well, you’ll find out, because I’ll let you know … They know what not to do.”
Mr. Trump said Iran “should save the white flag of surrender.” “If this were a fight, they’d stop it,” said Mr. Trump.
– Reuters, AFP