WASHINGTON, July 27: US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could carry out a major military operation against Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail to produce an agreement.
Speaking in an interview with Axios on Monday, Trump said Washington is engaged in intensive negotiations with Tehran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restarting talks on a comprehensive nuclear deal.
“If these talks do not lead anywhere, we will return to major military action,” Trump said, adding that the United States would not allow the diplomatic process to continue indefinitely.
The negotiations are primarily taking place between Iran and Oman, with Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt also playing mediation roles. Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are also involved in the discussions.
Trump revealed that he had postponed a planned military strike on Friday after mediating countries urged him to give diplomacy another chance. He said he believes Iran is interested in reaching an agreement.
The US President also noted that the decision to delay military action had helped ease global oil prices and boosted stock markets.
Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. Ahead of the meeting, he said that without his presidency, Iran would have already obtained nuclear weapons and Israel would have faced a serious existential threat.
