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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that he may be willing to engage in discussions with Iran, although he conditioned any potential negotiation on the terms proposed by Tehran.
The statements were made during an interview granted to the chief foreign affairs correspondent for Fox News, Trey Yingst, amid the military escalation between Washington and the Iranian government.
“I've heard that they're eager to talk”, Trump said when asked about the possibility of a dialogue with Iranian leaders.
“It's possible, depending on what terms, possible, only possible... There's no need to discuss it further, if you think about it, but it is possible,” added the Republican leader, according to the American network's report.
The president's words come at a time of great tension following the start of the joint military operation between the United States and Israel against Iranian targets, which Washington has described as a preventive offensive aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program.
In the same interview, Trump expressed his discomfort with the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
"I don't think I can live in peace", the president stated while referring to the new Iranian leader.
Trump stated that Mojtaba Khamenei's rise to power does not bode well for changes in Iran's policy, and he reiterated his dissatisfaction with the leadership transition within the regime.
Reuters reported that the president had already publicly expressed his disappointment with this decision, which he views as a continuation of the previous leadership.
"Much more than expectations"
The president also praised the initial results of the American military operation against Iran, called Operation Epic Fury, which began on February 28.
“The results have far exceeded expectations at this early stage,” Trump stated during the interview.
According to data released by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the U.S. military has attacked over 5,000 targets since the beginning of the offensive.
Trump defended the military strategy and stated that the initial strike was crucial in weakening Iranian capabilities.
"When we attacked first, we incapacitated 50% of their missiles, and if we hadn't done that, it would have been a much tougher fight," he stated.
The president justified the decision to launch a preventative strike, asserting that no other U.S. leader had had the courage to do so.
"None of the other presidents had the courage to do it… I don’t want there to be a president who hasn’t had the courage to do it in five or ten years. It’s like a gunslinger, who draws his weapon first," he stated.
Trump also stated that the operation included a surprise factor, as attacks were carried out at unusual hours.
"Attacks during breakfast are unusual, and they tricked us because they thought we weren't going to go at that time... It was very, very shocking," he stated.
The fear of the Iranian nuclear program
During the conversation with Fox News, the president noted that close advisors warned him about Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Trump stated that the special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner conveyed to him that Tehran claimed to have enough enriched uranium to build up to 11 nuclear bombs.
"I said, you know, they are not acting intelligently. Because basically they are saying that I have to attack them," he explained.
Trump added that, in his opinion, if Iran had succeeded in developing a nuclear bomb, it would have used it against Israel, other countries in the Middle East, or even against the U.S.
The leader also stated that he is surprised by the Iranian reaction following the U.S. and Israeli attacks, especially regarding the launch of missiles and drones against Gulf countries.
“One of the things that surprised me the most was when they attacked countries that were not attacking them”, he declared.
Investigation into an Attack on a School
Trump was also asked about an alleged attack on a girls' school in Iran that, according to Iranian state media and estimates from UNICEF, resulted in between 165 and 180 deaths, mostly students, as well as dozens of injuries.
The figures have not been independently verified.
The president avoided taking direct responsibility for the incident and noted that the case is under investigation.
Contradictory statements about the war
While Trump defended the success of the military offensive, his public statements about the state of the conflict have caused confusion.
According to an analysis by CNN, the president has provided contradictory accounts regarding the war with Iran within a matter of hours.
In a telephone interview with CBS News, he stated that "the war is practically over," but later asserted in a speech to Republican legislators that "we have already won in many ways, but not enough," insisting that the United States will continue operations until a definitive victory is achieved.
He also provided different accounts regarding Iran's military capability.
At times, he stated that the country “has no navy, no communications, no air force,” while in other statements he affirmed that those capabilities have been “reduced” or “very weakened,” but not completely destroyed.
In that context of military tensions and contradictory messages, Trump left the door open for a possible negotiation with Tehran, although he insisted that any dialogue would depend on the conditions proposed by the Iranian government.
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