President Donald Trump said in a Fox News interview that Iran must raise a "white flag" of surrender, and that if hostilities between the two countries resume, Israel will join the United States in the fight.
Trump told Fox News, "Iran needs to raise the white flag of surrender," and added, "They're good poker players, but they're dying." He also said, "I have no time schedule. I'm not in a hurry." On the scale of force used so far, he said, "What we've used so far is nothing."
According to Fox News, the president suggested the American naval blockade continues to exert new financial pressure on the Iranian regime, despite what the Iranians have said publicly. Fox News' Trey Yingst also noted that, according to Trump, the US has many mid-range munitions, and that many of the more advanced systems were handed by President Biden to Ukraine – including air defense systems currently needed in the Middle East.
Trump confirmed to Fox News, "We have a back-channel with the Revolutionary Guards. We are speaking directly with figures inside the Revolutionary Guards in Iran." Fox News' Yingst added that these are the hardliners within Iran, and that this is a further sign that the Trump administration is not engaging only with the diplomatic tier in Tehran but also with some of the very hardliners who orchestrated attacks against US forces. The correspondent asked the president about the parallel talks underway between Iran and Oman over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump replied, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the sh*t out of them."
Trump also addressed the Gaza Strip and said, "We have our own relationship with Hamas. They are giving up their guns," referring to the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip. According to Yingst, a meeting took place in Egypt on Sunday between senior Hamas leadership and Jared Kushner and American mediators on the ground, including Khalil al-Hayya.
Trump said, "The Israelis should not be attacking in Gaza. Hamas has agreed to lay down its weapons." Yingst noted that a meeting was taking place at that moment in Jerusalem between Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The correspondent asked the president about the upcoming Israeli elections in October. Trump replied, "I think it's most appropriate for me to stay out of Israeli elections, but I may endorse somebody."
Meanwhile, sources told the Saudi network Al Arabiya that there are reports of an agreement to extend the temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran by 60 days.
President Donald Trump reiterated on Monday that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons, amid the lack of progress in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.
"The number one goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a nuclear weapon," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Trump's remarks appear to be a direct response to claims made by Vice President JD Vance that the United States' primary goal is lowering fuel prices.
