Iran 'getting more serious' in talks, says Trump — but US strikes enter 13th night

Washington: US President Donald Trump stated that Iran is taking talks to end the conflict seriously. He noted that while Iran has shown seriousness regarding negotiations, the US is not letting its guard down; if diplomacy fails, the US military is fully prepared to launch large-scale attacks. Trump’s remarks come amidst continuous US strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Iran on US bases in the Gulf.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump said, "Talks haven't stopped, and Iran is serious about them. At the same time, we are fully prepared. Our military is ready for action, yet we are engaging in dialogue. A decisive turning point may or may not occur. They might concede defeat, lay down their arms, or perhaps retreat into a cave and hide."

Trump outlines two options

In his statement, Donald Trump presented two options regarding the conflict. He described the first as the military path—continuing as things are or escalating the conflict to the point of their total destruction. The second option is a deal; he suggested that reaching an agreement is the prudent strategy.

Trump believes Iran is taking the talks seriously, though there is no guarantee of a concrete outcome at this stage. He remarked, "The Iranians seem more serious now than ever before, but that doesn't necessarily mean we will reach a conclusion. Let's see what happens." Iran Stands Firm

Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with devastation, yet Tehran has appeared increasingly aggressive rather than yielding to these threats. Dismissing US pressure, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran would not bow to threats. He asserted that any US attack would be met with a forceful response.

In his statement, Araghchi said, "Iran has demonstrated that it will not yield to American bullying and will not respond to the language of force, pressure, and threats under any circumstances. The primary obstacle in US-Iran relations is not a lack of dialogue, but Washington's persistent reliance on bullying and coercion."

Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. Netanyahu has held frequent meetings with Trump. It is widely believed that Israel aims to escalate the conflict involving Iran; consequently, it will be interesting to see what outcome emerges from the White House meeting.