Trump says he prefers a deal but warns Iran he can ‘finish the job’

Trump said his objective remains preventing Tehran from retaining enriched uranium rather than trying to replace the government in Iran.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

President Donald Trump said Monday during an impromptu interview with reporters in the Oval Office that he still prefers reaching an agreement with Iran but warned that the United States is prepared to take military action if negotiations fail.

Trump said his objective remains preventing Tehran from retaining enriched uranium rather than trying to replace the government in Iran.

“I’m not looking to carry out regime change—I want us to have the enriched uranium,” Trump said.

He added that it remains to be seen whether Iran’s current leadership will take a different approach than previous governments.

“We’ll have to find out if they’re more rational than their predecessors,” he said.

Trump also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, saying the United States had ensured the continued flow of oil through the strategic waterway.

“Without the Iranians knowing, we got so much oil out of Hormuz and removed the curfew,” he said.

Despite expressing support for a diplomatic resolution, Trump coupled his remarks with a warning that the United States would act if negotiations fail to produce an agreement.

“Either we’ll make a deal or we’ll finish the job, and it won’t be that hard to finish the job there. But I prefer a deal,” Trump said.

He also claimed Iran understands the extent of US military capabilities, adding, “The Iranians know I can wipe out all their power stations by this afternoon.”

Earlier Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented on the US-Iran negotiations, reiterating Israel’s opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.

Referring to the funeral of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Netanyahu said, “Eighty percent of the Iranian people hate the regime, but another minority has emerged that can take to the streets. They shouted, ‘Death to Trump.’ Iran is not America’s friend, and it must not have nuclear weapons or the means to obtain them.”

Netanyahu also stressed that Israel and the United States remain closely aligned despite the ongoing negotiations, saying, “We see eye to eye on 99% of the issues. We are allies. We respect the United States.”