WASHINGTON – As US, and Iran are moving closer to peace deal, US President Donald Trump singled out Pakistan, praising its role in the negotiations and calling its efforts “very good” as talks edged toward a potentially historic breakthrough.
Trump made dramatic claim that Iran has effectively undergone a “regime change,” saying the country now has a new leadership that is “smarter” and “less radical” than before. POTUs argued that multiple layers of Iran’s leadership had been removed or weakened, leading to what he described as a de facto change in government.
“One leadership is gone, another leadership is gone, and a third leadership is partly going,” Trump said. “I think this is regime change.” In a significant acknowledgment, Trump praised Pakistan and Qatar for their efforts in facilitating negotiations between the parties involved.
“Pakistan and Qatar both did a very good job,” he said, highlighting their contribution to the diplomatic process that led to the emerging agreement.
Trump announced that a peace agreement with Iran could be signed “tomorrow or the next day,” after previously indicating that a formal signing ceremony would take place in Switzerland on Friday. According to Trump, the agreement includes Iran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and not to seek them from any other country.
He stressed that the provision prevents both the production and acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Trump said military operations would have continued had Iran refused to accept the agreement. “If Iran had not agreed to the deal, the bombing would have continued,” Trump said, presenting the agreement as a turning point in the conflict.
The agreement has resulted in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, and claimed it would help bring an end to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Trump also mentioned that Israel had been provided with a copy of the agreement and described the country as a “good partner.” However, he also suggested that Israel could take a more measured approach regarding Hezbollah-related threats. Referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump called him “a good man” but said he can sometimes become “too emotional.”
Trump added that Netanyahu should adopt a softer approach, saying that not every Hezbollah-linked threat requires the destruction of a building.
Trump firmly rejected reports that Iran could gain access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund as part of the agreement. “We’re not giving them any money. We’re not giving them anything,” he said, dismissing such reports as “fake news.”
He said future negotiations involving Gulf states will focus on non-nuclear issues, particularly Iran’s conventional ballistic missile program. While acknowledging that some advisers wanted Iran completely stripped of its missile capabilities, Trump suggested that a total ban was unrealistic.
US ready to resume attacks if Iran fails to comply, Trump says
