President Donald Trump said Iran is ready to negotiate a ceasefire, but he is not willing to make a deal yet because the proposed terms are “not good enough.”
In a nearly 30-minute phone interview with NBC News, Trump said Tehran is open to ending the conflict, but Washington will only accept a deal that fully meets its conditions.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said. “They have to be very solid.”
When asked what those conditions might include, the president declined to provide details but indicated that Iran abandoning its nuclear ambitions would be central to any agreement.
War Expands as Military Campaign Intensifies
The war began two weeks ago after US and Israeli forces launched joint strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and US-linked targets across the region.
Trump said the US military campaign has already significantly weakened Iran’s capabilities.
“We’ve knocked out most of their missiles. We’ve knocked out most of their drones. We knocked out their manufacturing of missiles and drones, largely,” he said.
The president added that Iran’s remaining military capabilities could be eliminated quickly.
“Within two days, it’ll be totally decimated,” Trump said.
The conflict has already taken a toll on US forces. Thirteen American service members have died since the war began, including six crew members killed Friday after a US military refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.
US Pushes Plan to Secure the Strait of Hormuz
Trump also said the US is working with other countries to secure the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping route that carries a large share of global oil supplies.
“Many countries that are affected by the thuggery of Iran will be sending warships with the United States to keep the Strait open and safe,” Trump said.
The president suggested countries such as China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK could participate in the effort, though he declined to confirm which nations had already committed.
The strait is one of the most important energy chokepoints in the world, and any disruption to tanker traffic there has already pushed global oil prices sharply higher.
Trump said the US may also begin sweeping the waterway for potential mines, though he declined to confirm whether US naval escorts for oil tankers would be deployed.
“It’s possible,” he said.
Strikes Target Iran’s Key Oil Export Hub
Trump also confirmed that US forces struck Kharg Island, a strategic Iranian island that hosts the country’s main oil export terminal.
“We totally demolished Kharg Island,” Trump said. “But we may hit it a few more times just for fun.”
He added that US forces avoided destroying major energy infrastructure because rebuilding those facilities could take years.
According to US Central Command, American forces carried out precision strikes on about 90 military targets while attempting to preserve oil infrastructure.
Trump Questions Status of Iran’s New Supreme Leader
Trump also raised questions about the status of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who recently took power after his father was killed during the early phase of the war.
The president said he was unsure whether the new leader is even alive.
“I don’t know if he’s even alive. So far nobody has been able to show him,” Trump said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier that Khamenei had been “wounded and likely disfigured.”
Iran has issued statements from the new leader, but they have been delivered only in written form, fueling speculation about his condition.
Trump Dismisses Gas Price Concerns
Despite rising energy costs linked to the war, Trump said he is not worried about higher gasoline prices in the US.
Gas prices have already climbed significantly since the conflict began.
- March 1 average: $2.94 per gallon
- Current average: $3.66 per gallon
Still, Trump insisted the price increase would be temporary.
“There’s so much oil and gas out there. It’s being clogged up a little bit, but it will be unclogged very soon,” he said.
The president also dismissed concerns that higher energy prices could hurt Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.
“I’m not concerned at all,” Trump said.
Russia, Ukraine Also Enter the Discussion
During the interview, Trump also suggested that Russia may be sharing intelligence with Iran, though he said the situation remains unclear.
“Russia is perhaps giving information, perhaps they’re not,” he said.
Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying he is “far more difficult to make a deal with” than Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
At the same time, Trump said the US does not need Ukrainian help in defending against Iranian drones.
Conflict Continues Despite Talk of Negotiations
While Trump acknowledged that Iran wants to negotiate, the war shows no immediate signs of ending.
Iran has threatened to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz and attacking regional energy infrastructure, while the US military campaign continues.
For now, Trump says Washington’s goal remains clear.
“The only thing I want to do is make sure that Iran can never be the bully of the Middle East again,” he said.
Related: Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Plan Faces Major Challenges: What is next?
