Trump's big U-turn days after saying it's 'too late' for talks with Iran

US President Donald Trump has said he may be open to talks with Iran even as he warned that Tehran would face far stronger American military strikes if it attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz, signalling a mix of diplomacy and hardline threats amid escalating tensions.

In an interview with Fox News aired on Tuesday, Trump said discussions with Iran could be possible but only under the right conditions.

Asked about the possibility of negotiations with Tehran during an interview on Monday evening, Trump said he had heard that Iranian leaders were eager to engage. “I hear they want to talk badly,” he said, adding that whether talks happen would depend on the terms offered.

CRITICISM OF IRAN’S NEW SUPREME LEADER

Trump also criticised Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressing doubt about his ability to maintain stability.

“I’m not happy about it,” Trump said during the interview with Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst. “I don’t believe he can live in peace.”

Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the role after the death of his father during a recent US military operation targeting Iran.

OPERATION EPIC FURY ‘BEYOND EXPECTATION’

Trump described the outcome of the US military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, as exceeding expectations.

The operation began on February 28 and resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Trump, the results of the strike were “way beyond expectation in terms of result this early”.

“One of the things that surprised me most was when they attacked countries that were not attacking them,” Trump said, referring to Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Gulf states following the US strikes.

He added that the initial US assault significantly weakened Iran’s capabilities. “When we attacked them first, we knocked out 50 percent of their missiles. And if we didn’t, it would have been a much harder fight.”

Operation Epic Fury was launched after negotiations between Washington and Tehran over the future of Iran’s nuclear programme collapsed.

Trump defended the decision to launch the operation, saying previous administrations lacked the resolve to act.

“No other President had the guts to do it,” he said. “I don’t want some President who hasn’t got the courage in five years or in ten years to go in.”

WARNING OVER STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Even as he left the door open for talks, Trump issued a strong warning about the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said Iran would face overwhelming retaliation if it attempted to disrupt oil shipments through the strait.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America twenty times harder than they have been hit thus far,” he wrote.

He added that the US would target sites that could cripple Iran’s ability to rebuild militarily.

“We will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back as a nation again — death, fire and fury will reign upon them,” Trump wrote, adding that he hoped such action would not become necessary.

Trump also said the continued flow of oil through the strait benefits major energy consumers.

“This is a gift from the United States of America to China and all of those nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait,” he wrote, expressing hope that the gesture would be appreciated.

The comments come as tensions in the region remain high following US military strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks on several Gulf countries, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

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