Trump Hints at Resuming Strikes on Iran After Elections: 'We Are in a Very Good Position and They Want a Deal'

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest offer to cease fire and open the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to bomb the country if a satisfactory deal is not reached. In remarks to Time magazine, Trump said, “The Iranians made an offer regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. I have seen some aspects of it, but not all of it, and it simply was not good enough.” He added, “What I rejected a year ago, I will not accept today.”

Reiterating that “Iran’s situation is extremely bad, their economy is collapsing, and they want a deal, but I want a real deal,” Trump threatened to “resume intense bombing of Iran after the midterm elections if we do not reach an agreement that satisfies us. Iran could be wiped out, and that is possible.” He further stated, “We closed the Strait of Hormuz to Iran, and we control it. Last night, we transported the largest volume of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, more than at any other time.”

On another note, the president pledged to restore the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to its previous levels soon, affirming that “oil prices will fall as they were once a deal is struck with Iran.” He dismissed reports of ammunition shortages as mostly fake news, saying, “We have plenty of weapons and our position is excellent. We are currently stockpiling large quantities and will distribute them to our allies.” He reiterated that “Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons because they are crazy, and we cannot allow them to do so,” adding, “Our position regarding Iran is very strong, and they want to reach an agreement.”

Meanwhile, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, commenting on US sanctions against Iran, emphasized that Pakistan is “a responsible state committed to international laws.” At a press conference by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan, Pakistan reaffirmed its role as a mediator, continuing to urge both Washington and Tehran to resort to diplomacy and adhere to the memorandum of understanding. Khan stressed that resolving disputes through diplomacy serves the broader interests of the region.

In a related development, a US official told Al Jazeera that the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, along with its strike group, departed San Diego bound for the Middle East. The official confirmed that the Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Makin Island left San Diego for the Middle East last Monday, with more than 2,000 Marines heading to the region. The official announced that by the end of next November, three aircraft carriers and two amphibious assault groups would be deployed around Iran, stating that with such a massive concentration of force in the Middle East, US leaders would have many options for dealing with Iran.

In a parallel development, President Trump described the “orderly” withdrawal of US troops from Iraq at the conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS as a “great moment” for his country. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “I am pleased to announce that the last US troops are leaving Iraq. It is a great day for America.” He added, “We are leaving, and Iraq has a new and wonderful prime minister, Ali al-Adibi, the person I supported from the beginning and fully backed. He won an election he was not expected to win, and he did so by a landslide.”