Speaking to The New York Times, President Trump defends his new Iran pact, claiming it saved Israel from obliteration.
US President Donald Trump claimed during a Sunday interview with The New York Times that his freshly brokered pact with Tehran will guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz remains completely open without transit fees indefinitely. He further asserted that the diplomatic breakthrough successfully shielded Israel from nuclear devastation, overriding fierce pushback from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The president warned that if the Islamic Republic fails to reach a definitive atomic accord - a process administration aides indicate is slated to commence this Friday in Switzerland - he is prepared to reignite military operations against Tehran. Alternatively, Trump proposed an arrangement where the United States would serve as a regional protector in exchange for a 20 percent share of Middle Eastern revenues.
The remarks were delivered during a 28-minute phone dialogue initiated by Trump from the White House executive residence, followed by a brief secondary call. Throughout the conversation, the president maintained that his late-February military offensive against Iran, paired with the subsequent maritime blockade enforced after Tehran shut the strait, completely reshaped regional dynamics to Washington's advantage.
During the interview with the Times, Trump lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin for their assistance in facilitating the truce. Conversely, he leveled harsh criticism at Netanyahu, accusing the Israeli leader of orchestrating military maneuvers that nearly broke the emerging peace deal. “He’s a very difficult guy," Trump said of Netanyahu, “and to be honest with you, he should be very thankful to us for doing this. Because if Iran had a nuclear weapon, Israel wouldn’t be around for two hours." (Ed note: So President Trump is doing a victory lap with a big enemy, The New York Times?) (Read More)
