US not ready to seek deal to end war with Iran, Donald Trump says
US not ready to seek deal to end war with Iran, Donald Trump says
Donald Trump stated that the US is not prepared to pursue a ceasefire agreement to halt the ongoing conflict with Iran, despite reports suggesting Tehran might be open to negotiations. The former president argued that while he believed Iran was eager to discuss peace, the terms of any deal remained unsatisfactory, prompting the US to continue its military actions. His remarks followed a series of strikes by Iranian and Israeli forces, which intensified tensions in the region.
Iran launched fresh missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf nations and Israel, while US and Israeli aircraft carried out new strikes on Iranian military sites. These attacks have escalated the Middle East crisis, causing widespread disruption. Global air travel faced delays, oil exports from the area were halted, and fuel prices surged internationally. Both Iran and the US showed no signs of easing their aggressive rhetoric, even as casualties rose and oil supply routes faced challenges.
Trump, speaking to NBC News on Saturday, hinted at potential further strikes on Kharg Island, the central hub for Iran’s oil exports. He suggested the US might target the island again “just for fun” after recent air assaults. “Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” he said in a
direct quote
. He also emphasized plans to increase attacks on Iran’s coastal areas north of the strait of Hormuz to secure safer passage for oil shipments.
Experts caution that re-opening the strait through military force alone will be arduous, as Iran retains the capability to disrupt shipping via missiles, drones, or small boats. Trump called for international naval support to protect tankers traversing the critical waterway, which handles roughly 20% of global oil and gas traffic. Over 600 vessels are currently stranded in the Red Sea, according to recent reports.
Iran’s diplomatic overtures
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, urged caution in international actions during a conversation with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, as noted by an Iranian government statement. He claimed Iran was open to any proposal aimed at ending the war completely and highlighted ongoing mediation with neighboring countries to reduce hostilities. However, no progress was confirmed, and Turkish officials stated they were working to expedite peace talks.
Resilience amid conflict
Despite the war’s toll, life in Tehran showed some signs of normalcy. Witnesses reported that residents began returning to their routines, with traffic picking up and several cafes and restaurants reopening. In the Tajrish bazaar, a key market in the capital’s northern district, over a third of stalls were active just days before Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Some individuals queued at ATMs, though Bank Melli’s online operations had been temporarily suspended.
The International Committee of the Red Cross documented more than 1,300 fatalities caused by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Iranian health ministry data, shared by the judiciary’s news agency Mizan, indicated 223 women and 202 children were among the casualties. The UN refugee agency estimated that up to 3.2 million Iranians had been displaced, primarily fleeing urban centers for safer areas.
Iran acknowledged that its new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, sustained injuries during the initial strike on February 28 that killed his predecessor. While the injuries were described as minor, Trump dismissed Khamenei’s leadership, stating: “I don’t know if he’s even alive. So far, nobody has been able to show him.” The Israeli military launched additional strikes against western Iran after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards labeled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a criminal, vowing to pursue him relentlessly.
