Washington/Teheran – The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran’s government has entered its third week with no immediate end in sight. In a 30-minute phone conversation with NBC News, U.S. President Donald Trump, 79, stated that a lasting peace agreement is not currently possible. Despite signals from Iran indicating a willingness to discuss a ceasefire, the President emphasized that current conditions for a durable deal are insufficient.
Trump confirmed to NBC News journalist Kristen Welker that while Iran is seeking negotiations, the U.S. Administration is holding firm to “highly solid” terms. “Iran wants to create a deal, and I don’t want to, because the conditions aren’t good enough yet,” the President said. Trump did not provide specifics regarding the demanded conditions, but affirmed that the complete abandonment of Iran’s nuclear ambitions remains a core prerequisite.
Öl-Herz des Irans: USA bombardieren wichtigste Insel der Mullahs
Militärische Operationen und die Insel Kharg
The military situation has continued to escalate. Two weeks ago, the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation, dubbed “Epische Wut,” against Iran, resulting in the deaths of 13 U.S. Service members. Trump expressed surprise in the phone interview that Iran had retaliated by targeting other countries in the region. A particularly significant development was the attack on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil exports. While the U.S. Central Command described the strikes as precise, the President used more forceful language, stating that the island had been “completely destroyed” and might be “attacked a couple more times for fun.”
Despite the extensive damage to infrastructure, Trump stated that energy pipelines were intentionally spared, as their reconstruction would take years. The U.S. Central Command had previously reported 90 precision strikes.
Angriff auf Schah-Flieger: USA zerstören „Orion“ und „Hercules“
Sicherung der Straße von Hormus
Simultaneously, the U.S. Administration is working to build an international coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz against Iranian threats. In this effort, Trump has called on countries such as China, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom to send warships to the region to maintain open sea lanes. Given the rising global oil prices, the President dismissed concerns from American citizens about high gasoline prices, expressing confidence that Iran’s missile and drone production has already been largely crippled and will be “completely destroyed within two days.”
Spannungen bezüglich der Ukraine
Trump’s remarks were further complicated by a sharp criticism of Ukrainian security policy. He sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 48, describing him as “far more tricky to negotiate with” than Russian President Vladimir Putin, 73. These statements follow the U.S. Decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil – a move that has drawn international criticism, but which Trump defends as a necessary measure against the oil price crisis. The ongoing conflict adds another layer of complexity to the geopolitical landscape.
The status of Iran’s leadership remains unclear. Trump publicly questioned in the interview whether the country’s new Supreme Leader is “even still alive,” further fueling uncertainty about the political stability in Tehran amid the war.
