Trump signals possible end to Iran strikes as US-Iran talks continue
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Washington: US President Donald Trump has indicated that further military action against Iran may not be necessary if negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue to move forward.
Speaking in a phone interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump said the United States had already delivered a major blow to Iran and suggested that renewed strikes were unlikely, provided the two sides reached a strong agreement.
“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said, referring to Iran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The President also claimed that the US military had identified key infrastructure targets in Iran, including power plants and bridges. He asserted that American forces could destroy 38 bridges within an hour, according to Xinhua.
However, he added that such action would “most likely” not be required, saying Iran was eager to strike a deal.
“We’re talking to Iran. We have been,” Trump told reporters before departing the White House.
Trump described the military situation as favourable to the United States and claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was gradually reopening.
“We’ve beaten Iran. We are doing very well with Iran,” he said.
His comments came as the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against eight Canada-based money services businesses under Operation Economic Outcast. The department alleged that the firms helped Iran convert Iranian rials and other currencies into digital assets for international transactions.
According to Treasury, several of the businesses had dealings with sanctioned Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges or digital wallets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
More than eight months after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, Trump has continued to send mixed signals about the future of the conflict. While diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran appear to be ongoing, there has been little visible progress towards a lasting resolution.
(Inputs from IANS)