Trump Rules Out Kharg Island Strike if War Agreement Reached

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that a potential military operation targeting Iran's crucial Kharg Island would be withdrawn if both sides reach an agreement to end the ongoing conflict. Trump suggested this peace deal could materialize as early as the upcoming weekend.

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Now it would be (off the table) if we signed this agreement, it would be. They weren't so thrilled when they heard that that's what I was put in. I just don't think I like it.

"Now it would be (off the table) if we signed this agreement, it would be. They weren't so thrilled when they heard that that's what I was put in. I just don't think I like it," Trump told reporters, responding to questions about the Kharg Island operation being removed from consideration.

Trump drew a comparison to Venezuela, where he claimed a U.S. military intervention led to the removal of President Nicolás Maduro and subsequently facilitated the export of millions of barrels of oil to the United States. "Look at Venezuela, how well that's worked out. We paid for that war many times... millions of barrels of oil from Venezuela going to Houston, and we're working great with the Venezuelan government," he remarked.

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Look at Venezuela, how well that's worked out. We paid for that war many times... millions of barrels of oil from Venezuela going to Houston, and we're working great with the Venezuelan government.

The President also noted that U.S. forces have recently moved ships and transported millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. He asserted that the vital waterway would reopen immediately, possibly by Saturday or Monday, though he refrained from setting a firm deadline. "The Strait is going to open immediately. This signing maybe it’ll happen on Saturday or Monday. We think it’s going to go pretty quickly," Trump stated, adding that the strait has been open for months without public knowledge.

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The Strait is going to open immediately. This signing maybe it’ll happen on Saturday or Monday. We think it’s going to go pretty quickly.