Former United States President Donald Trump has said he is not prepared to enter into a peace agreement with Iran yet, even as military operations involving the United States and Israel continue to escalate.
Speaking during an interview with NBC News, Trump said Iran appeared interested in negotiating but insisted that Washington would continue military pressure until more favourable terms were offered. He also warned that US forces could carry out additional strikes on Iran’s oil hub at Kharg Island, saying such action could happen again if necessary.
The conflict, which has been ongoing for more than two weeks, has involved joint US-Israeli military strikes against Iran. Despite rising casualties and growing economic concerns, neither side has softened its position. Global oil markets have also been affected as tensions threaten shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit channels.
Trump stated that although Iran had shown interest in negotiations, the United States was not ready to accept the current proposals.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” he said during the interview, adding that American forces could intensify strikes along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz in order to secure safe passage for oil shipments.
Meanwhile, Iran’s newly declared supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. However, Trump dismissed the statement, suggesting uncertainty about the leader’s condition and questioning whether he was fully in control.
Iranian officials have rejected speculation about leadership instability, maintaining that there are no issues with the country’s new leadership despite Mojtaba Khamenei not appearing publicly since assuming the position.
At the same time, the Israeli military announced fresh air strikes on targets in western Iran. The escalation followed a statement by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a criminal and vowed to track him down.
Security concerns have also spread beyond Iran. The United States has advised its citizens to leave Iraq following attacks by pro-Iranian groups targeting the US embassy and military bases housing Western troops.
Despite the tense political and military situation, daily life in Iran’s capital Tehran has begun to show signs of returning to normal. Traffic in the city has increased and several cafés and restaurants have reopened after days of disruption.
Activity has also resumed in parts of the Tajrish Bazaar, a major shopping centre in northern Tehran, where many traders have reopened their stalls ahead of Nowruz, the Persian New Year celebration.
Residents have been seen withdrawing cash from automated teller machines as banking services gradually recover after online operations at Bank Melli, one of Iran’s largest banks, experienced disruptions earlier in the week.
In response to the growing crisis in the Gulf region, Trump suggested forming an international naval coalition to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the steady flow of crude oil.
He called on countries such as China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to contribute naval vessels to protect shipping routes affected by the conflict.
British defence officials said discussions were ongoing with international partners on possible steps to safeguard maritime traffic in the region.
Officials in Japan also indicated that sending naval forces would face strict legal and political conditions. Takayuki Kobayashi, a senior figure in the ruling party of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, noted that Japan’s laws set a very high threshold for such military deployments.
Elsewhere in the region, air defence systems in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia reportedly intercepted new projectiles on Sunday. Warning sirens were also heard in Manama, Bahrain’s capital.
Authorities in Dubai said their air defence systems intercepted additional threats following warnings from Iran’s military advising civilians in the United Arab Emirates to avoid port areas.
US forces earlier carried out strikes on Kharg Island, from where most of Iran’s oil exports originate. Both sides confirmed that the attack targeted military installations and did not damage oil export facilities.
Iran’s health ministry reported that more than 1,200 people have been killed in the ongoing strikes, although the figures have not been independently verified.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, up to 3.2 million people have been displaced within Iran, many leaving Tehran and other cities in search of safer areas.
The Pentagon also reported that more than 15,000 targets across Iran have been struck during the military campaign.
US media reports further indicate that the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, along with approximately 2,500 Marines, has been deployed to the region as tensions continue to rise.
Trump Rejects Immediate Deal With Iran as US-Israel Strikes Continue
