United States (US) President Donald Trump made a casual statement today. Specifically, he claimed his administration did not start the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). Tragically, this conflict has caused thousands of deaths. Furthermore, it has upended global oil prices.
Remarks at Veterans Day Ceremony
The US President made the remark at the national Veterans Day Ceremony. Notably, this event took place in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. Speaking in the cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater, Trump shared his views.
“America did not start a war with Iran. Iran has been waging a war in America since 1979,” he said.
Moreover, he stated this issue should have been handled a long time ago. “It was about time somebody fought back, and we won. Just a question of when we want to end it.” In addition, Trump stressed his goal for a total victory. He noted they do not want a 93% victory.
Statements on the War’s Timeline
Meanwhile, the White House’s Rapid Response 47 X account shared a clip of this statement. The affiliate Trump War Room also posted it. In the clip, Trump insisted he did not start the war. Additionally, he noted the conflict will be over ‘soon’. However, he gave no clear date.
He added that he ‘began operations’ against Iran ‘seven months ago’. According to him, only a few weeks involved active hard fighting.
‘We lost 18 beautiful souls,’ the President added. Specifically, he was referring to the soldiers killed in the Iran War. As a result of the damage, Trump claimed it will take Iran 25 years to rebuild the destroyed areas. Finally, he hoped the US would not have to destroy more of the country.
Shift to Economic Sanctions
Currently, the Trump administration and the US Congress are changing their focus. They are now tightening their sanctions on Iran. Essentially, this move aims to pressure the IRI regime. Ultimately, the goal is to force them to give up their nuclear energy programme.
Washington and its closest Middle East ally, Israel, share a common fear. Particularly, they worry Iran has plans to develop a nuclear bomb. Meanwhile, Iran maintains its nuclear energy programme is for peaceful goals only.
Therefore, US Secretary of State Mark Rubio shared his thoughts on the matter. He sees no need to continue air strikes on Iran. Instead, he believes the Trump Administration should focus on increasing sanctions. Consequently, this will help cripple the IRI’s economy.
According to America’s top diplomat, these sanctions will halt Iran’s growth. As a result, this heavy pressure might persuade the regime to return to the negotiating table. Rubio spoke on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers’ Summit in Paris, France.
“The economic campaign is so devastating that right now there is no need for major combat operations,” Rubio informed the local press.
Iran’s Strict Demands
Tehran, on the other hand, is remaining steadfast on its demands. They want Trump and his military leaders to end the war immediately. In exchange, Iran would withdraw from the Strait of Hormuz.
Mohsen Rezaei is Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. He said his regime is waiting for a US response. Furthermore, this response must address Tehran’s seven conditions for holding negotiations.
Rezaei’s comments on Tuesday came as hopes grew for a diplomatic breakthrough. Trump previously said he saw a “positive momentum” towards ending the conflict. For instance, the President held talks with Qatar’s Prime Minister on Monday. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdelrahman bin Jassim Al Thani visited the White House.
Indeed, Qatar is a key mediator in the conflict. After this meeting, Trump stated new attacks on Iran were unnecessary.
Tensions Over the Strait of Hormuz
Subsequently, Rezaei spoke to Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV on Tuesday. He stated claims “about continuing negotiations or holding a meeting in Qatar are a pure lie.” In fact, he accused Washington of talking up negotiations simply to ease economic pressure and bring down oil prices.
Additionally, Rezaei discussed the Strait of Hormuz. This is the global sea route that Iran recently closed. He said it will not reopen until Washington meets Tehran’s seven conditions.
“Their initial response was insufficient and deceptive,” he said. Moreover, he added they are still waiting for a clear response.
The Seven Conditions for Peace
Specifically, Iran has seven clear demands for ending the blockade and the war. These demands include:
- An end to fighting on all fronts.
- Lifting the US Naval blockade along the Strait of Hormuz.
- Reopening the shipping lanes in the strait immediately.
- Lifting all economic sanctions on Iran.
- Releasing Iranian funds held abroad.
- Stopping interference in Iran’s internal affairs.
However, Washington is unlikely to yield to all of Iran’s demands. Instead, Trump and his advisors will likely increase sanctions as leverage. Ultimately, it is only a matter of time before a compromise is reached. Consequently, the world waits to see what agreement Iranian Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and his rivals can find.