Trump ‘not looking for a fight’ with Iran
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump said Wednesday he doesn’t want to carry out a US strike on Iran but suggested he stands ready to act if it’s necessary to extinguish Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump continued his increasingly pointed warnings about the United States joining Israel in striking at Tehran’s nuclear program as Iran’s leader warned anew that the United States would be greeted with stiff retaliation if it attacks.
The stakes are high for Trump—and the world—as he engages in a push-pull debate between his goals of avoiding dragging the United States into another war and preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“I’m not looking to fight,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “But if it’s a choice between fighting and having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.”
Trump pondered his next steps as the US embassy in Israel began evacuating a number of diplomats and family members who had asked to leave Israel.
Europe talks with Iran
Meanwhile, senior European diplomats are set to hold talks with Iran in Geneva on Friday, according to a European official familiar with the matter.
The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity, said the high-ranking diplomats from Germany, France and the United Kingdom as well as the European Union’s top diplomat will take part in the talks.
Trump, who met with his national security aides for a second straight day in the White House Situation Room, also told reporters it’s not “too late” for Iran to give up its nuclear program.
“I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump said of a potential US strike. “I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
“Nothing is finished until it is finished,” he added, signaling a decision could soon. “The next week is going to be very big—maybe less than a week.”
No surrender from Iran
Trump also offered a terse response to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s refusal to heed to his call for Iran to submit to an unconditional surrender.
“I say good luck,” Trump said.
Khamenei earlier in the day warned that any US strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them” and that his country would not bow to Trump’s call for surrender.
Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the Pentagon was providing possible options to Trump as he decides next steps on Iran.
Trump had said Tuesday the United States knows where Khamenei is hiding but doesn’t want him killed—“for now.”
“He is an easy target, but is safe there—We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” Trump said.
Iran’s feelers
Trump had earlier urged Tehran’s 9.5 million residents to flee for their lives as he cut short his participation in an international summit earlier this week to return to Washington for urgent talks with his national security team.
Trump said that the Iranian officials continue to reach out to the White House as they’re “getting the hell beaten out of them” by Israel.
