Trump Says War With Iran Unlikely Amid Diplomatic Push

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the likelihood of renewed war with Iran is very low, provided diplomatic efforts continue and an agreement meeting Washington's demands is reached. In a Sunday phone interview with CNN, Trump reiterated his assessment that attacking Iran again would not be necessary, though he emphasized the military option remains on the table. "The answer is it's very unlikely that it will be needed," Trump told CNN's Jim Sciutto, adding that "it depends on whether they sign a very strong agreement."

Trump explained that Iran is in a difficult economic and military situation following recent damage, stating the U.S. has already inflicted significant harm. "They are economically fading. We hit them militarily, and we can finish them completely," he declared. This indicates Washington's preference for exhausting diplomatic solutions, particularly concerning Iran's nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, eight months after the conflict began, the parties remain far from an agreement, with the confrontation in a relative stalemate, lacking significant diplomatic progress and marked by Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the strategic strait.

Despite his desire to avoid further escalation, Trump assured that the U.S. military is fully prepared for renewed fighting. He mentioned that three American aircraft carriers are in the region, with forces ready to receive orders. "We are ready for it. I have three aircraft carriers here. The third one just arrived. All are ready and prepared for action," he said. The President also revealed that the U.S. military has prepared a list of targets for strikes should negotiations fail, including strategic infrastructure like power plants and bridges. Trump claimed the U.S. could destroy 38 bridges in just one hour but expressed reluctance to order such destruction, noting it would take Iran ten years to rebuild.

Trump also assessed Iran's military status post-U.S. strikes, claiming Iranian air defense systems were destroyed, leaving the regime with only about 10% of its original missile capacity and around 15% of its drone capabilities. He attributed this severe damage partly to the destruction of factories used for producing missiles and drones.

Meanwhile, diplomatic activity has increased recently to prevent a wider conflict. Qatar announced on Friday that Trump spoke with its Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, about efforts to de-escalate the situation. Concurrently, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Pakistan, Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey, Cyprus, and Qatar. According to The Guardian, Qatar is attempting to broker a diplomatic framework involving the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and renewed international inspection of Iranian nuclear facilities. The proposal includes reciprocal steps: Washington would lift the naval blockade and release some frozen Iranian assets, while Tehran would allow IAEA inspectors access to nuclear facilities damaged by attacks.

However, not all factions in Tehran are eager to compromise. Hardliners in the Iranian regime view the recent U.S. midterm election results, which made the war a contentious issue, as a sign of Trump's political weakening. They believe this political pressure might increase his willingness to compromise during negotiations. Nevertheless, Trump projects that he will not abandon the military option if an agreement meeting his demands is not reached. "I will do it if necessary," he stated, but reiterated his belief that this scenario is unlikely, "They want to reach an agreement very much."