Trump Says US Has Hit 75% of Iran Targets, Rejects Nuclear Option

US President Donald Trump on Thursday used an Oval Office interaction with reporters to strike a defiant tone on Iran as he claimed that he was in no hurry to reach a deal. Trump also rejected the use of nuclear weapons and claimed that Washington had already inflicted major military damage on Tehran. Speaking to the reporters in the Oval Office, Trump also said Iran's leadership was in "turmoil" and suggested he was prepared to keep pressure on Tehran while negotiations continued.

'Don't rush me'

The MAGA supremo, while interacting with the reporters, said that he wanted the best possible deal and was not prepared to be rushed into one. He sharply declined to set a deadline for Iran's response to the latest US proposal saying, "Don't rush me," while arguing that past wars had lasted much longer than this conflict. Brushing aside the questions about whether the conflict was stretching beyond the four-to-six week timeline, he said, "I don't want to rush myself," adding that Iran's leadership "is in turmoil."

"I wanna make the best deal. I could make a deal right now," Trump said during an exchange. The comment came as reporters pressed him on whether the war was moving slower than expected and whether he had changed course on the pace of the campaign.

'75% targets hit in Iran'

Trump claimed that Iran's leadership was divided and struggling to agree on a common position. "They're fighting like cats and dogs over who's going to control. We've created a real mess for them," he said, using the phrase to argue that US military and strategic pressure had weakened Tehran internally. He also said, "We've hit about 75% of our targets. We stopped primarily because they wanted to have some peace," suggesting that the campaign had slowed after signs from Iran that it wanted de-escalation.

He said the United States had already done the bulk of the work militarily and was now waiting to see whether Tehran would strike a deal. "I took the country out militarily in the first four weeks. I took it out militarily," Trump said. "Now all we're doing is sitting back and seeing what deal (we make). And if they don't want to make a deal, then I'll finish it up militarily."

'Why do I need nuclear?'

Trump also rejected any suggestion that he might resort to a nuclear strike against Iran. When a reporter asked whether he would consider using a nuclear weapon, he reacted sharply and dismissed the question. "No, I wouldn't. We don't need it. Why do I need it? Why would a stupid question like that be asked?" Trump said. He then added, "Why would I use a nuclear weapon, when we've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it. No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody."

Strait of Hormuz and economic pressure

He also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route, saying Iran had approached the US about reopening it but that he opposed the move because of the financial benefit it could give Tehran. "If we open the strait, that means they're going to make $500 million a day. I don't want them to make $500 million a day until they settle this thing. So I'm the one that kept it closed," Trump said.