‘Through Battle’ or a Deal: Trump Says Iran War Will End ‘Very Soon’

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the war with Iran would end “very soon”, either through military action or an agreement on Washington’s terms, reiterating that Tehran would never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.

Speaking to a reporter during a campaign visit to Syracuse, New York, Trump claimed the United States had the conflict “under great control” and had destroyed key Iranian military capabilities.

“It’s going to end one way or the other very soon,” he said.

Asked what he meant, Trump replied: “The war will end either through battle or through, they’ll sign what we want to have signed. And Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

He did not specify a deadline or spell out the terms of the agreement he expected Iran to accept.

TRUMP CLAIMS IRAN’S MILITARY HAS BEEN WEAKENED

Trump claimed that US operations had destroyed Iran’s navy, air force, anti-aircraft systems and radar, while eliminating senior figures in its leadership.

“We knocked down two levels of their leaders, they have a whole different group,” he said.

He acknowledged that the changes had complicated Washington’s efforts to identify negotiating counterparts.

“It’s one of our problems, we don’t really know who to deal with anymore, but that’s okay,” Trump said.

The president also asserted that the US controlled the Strait of Hormuz and praised the performance of American forces.

NUCLEAR PROGRAMME REMAINS CENTRAL TO US DEMANDS

Trump argued that allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon would risk widespread destruction and accused previous US administrations of failing to confront the issue.

He singled out former president Barack Obama, criticising his administration’s financial dealings with Tehran.

Referring to the $1.7 billion payment associated with the settlement of a decades-old US-Iran dispute, Trump alleged that Iran had used the money to develop a nuclear weapon.

Trump also cited earlier strikes involving B-2 bombers and subsequent bombing operations as evidence of his administration’s determination to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear arms.

“We’ve done a great job. It’ll end very soon, one way or the other,” he said.

RUSSIAN DIESEL DEAL FEATURES IN REMARKS

Trump linked his comments on the conflict to the announcement of proposed Russian energy supplies, claiming that millions of barrels were heading to the US and that oil prices were falling rapidly.

Earlier on Friday, before leaving the White House for Syracuse, he had thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for agreeing to supply large quantities of diesel.

“I think you heard about the oil deal with Russia. That is a big deal,” Trump told reporters. “We have massive amounts of oil coming into our country, and it is diesel, which is what we want.”

Trump said the supplies, combined with what he described as American control of the Strait of Hormuz, would bring down diesel prices in the US and across global markets.

With inputs from ANI