Trump: Deal with Iran was 'a waste of time'

Washington – Agencies: U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed that he had not favored a short-term ceasefire with Iran, which his administration reached in June as part of what was then known as the preliminary memorandum of understanding. Speaking at an election rally in Mississippi on the night of Monday into Tuesday, Trump, referring to the ongoing war with Iran, said, “We announced a short ceasefire… I didn’t really favor it.” He added that he considered the agreement “a bit of a waste of time,” but followed up by saying, “But as you know, it’s better to listen to the experts.” Trump provided no further details, but his remarks clearly referred to the ceasefire his administration reportedly reached with the Iranian side last June. However, the Pakistan-brokered deal quickly collapsed without achieving any of its objectives, including holding negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump’s recent comments sharply contradict his stance when he first announced the agreement, at which time he described it as “a great day for world peace” and suggested it could “mark the beginning of a new golden age in the Middle East.” These remarks came amid confirmation from several U.S. officials and informed sources that a new round of strikes on Iranian sites is imminent, with expectations that they would begin after the midterm elections scheduled for November 3. Meanwhile, Tehran has hinted at an “unexpected” response to any U.S. or Israeli attack, suggesting it would expand its targets to include new U.S. bases and interests in the region, and even undersea internet cables. On another note, the U.S. president stated that Iran was only two weeks away from possessing a nuclear weapon. He added, “We dealt Iran a harsh defeat,” noting that oil shipments currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz exceed pre-war levels. Trump further claimed that Iran started the war against his country. In a separate development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a daily press briefing that Beijing expressed deep concern over conflicts in the Middle East and neighboring regions and would send an envoy to relevant countries in the near future. Guo urged the parties involved to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiation, and also expressed concern over the expansion of the Middle East conflict into the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. He said, “China will soon send a special envoy to visit countries in those areas to enhance communication with the relevant parties, encourage dialogue, help ease tensions, and prevent further deterioration of the situation.”