Iran lied about negotiations with US, Strait of Hormuz to open 'very soon', Trump says

U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Iran had been requesting negotiations while publicly denying ongoing talks. In an interview Wednesday, Trump revealed the United States had been poised to launch a "tremendous attack, the biggest since World War II," before opting for diplomacy. "They called me and said, very politely, 'Please, can we talk?' They didn’t want [the attack], and I said, 'Yes. We can talk. Let’s get it done,'" Trump recounted.

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The Strait’s going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard, and then the Strait’s going to be open.

Trump accused Iranian officials of denying contacts with Washington despite extensive discussions on Tuesday. "They don’t like to admit that. You tell people we’re having wonderful discussions, and then some guy will come out of Iran and say, 'We have not met.' They’ll say, 'We didn’t talk about nuclear.' Well, what did we talk about? We’re sitting there twiddling our thumbs, right?" he questioned.

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We were going to a tremendous attack, the biggest since World War II, and they called me and said, very politely, ‘Please, can we talk?’ They didn’t want [the attack], and I said, ‘Yes. We can talk. Let’s get it done. Finally, let’s get it done.’

Reiterating that Tehran would not be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons, Trump declared that the Strait of Hormuz would open soon, one way or another. "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. They already can’t, but it’s going to be formal," he stated. He warned that if Iran withdraws from current talks, "they’re going to get hit really hard. They know that. They understand that." Trump also criticized former President Barack Obama's Iran deal, calling it a "bribe" and citing the $1.7 billion in cash sent to Iran. He insisted that military pressure compelled Tehran to return to negotiations, stating, "You can’t bribe your way out. All you can do is fight your way out."

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They don’t like to admit that. You tell people we’re having wonderful discussions, and then some guy will come out of Iran and say, ‘We have not met.’ They’ll say, ‘We didn’t talk about nuclear.’ Well, what did we talk about? We’re sitting there twiddling our thumbs, right?

While emphasizing that military options remain available, Trump expressed hope they would not be necessary. "We hit them very, very hard. But the hard hit is yet to come, and hopefully we won’t have to use it. I hope we won’t have to. We’re having very good discussions." He concluded, "The only thing that matters is action, and they want to make a deal. We’ll see what happens. If they don’t make a deal, it’s going to be too bad."

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Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. They already can’t, but it’s going to be formal.