President Donald Trump, in a Fox News interview, said the US held good talks with Iran and that reaching a deal is preferable to destroying the country. He described the Mount Makosh nuclear site as 'not a big problem' and warned that if Iran does not sign a deal, he will return and 'complete the mission.' Trump also claimed he could destroy most of Iran's bridges in less than an hour, and that many Republicans want him to proceed with military action.
President Donald Trump, in a Fox News interview Tuesday afternoon, said the United States held "good talks" with Iran and downplayed the significance of the Mount Makosh nuclear site, calling it "not a big problem." The remarks, reported by Abu Ali Express, mark a notable shift in tone from the president's earlier threats on Tuesday, when he repeatedly warned of devastating strikes on Iranian infrastructure. Trump simultaneously stressed that reaching a deal is preferable to destroying the country, but warned that if Iran does not sign an agreement, he would "return and complete the mission."
The latest statements come after a series of escalating threats from Trump throughout Tuesday. At 15:38 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Trump threatened to destroy Iran's bridges "in less than an hour" and power plants in a day if no deal is reached. Minutes earlier, he claimed independent knowledge of developments at the Mount Makosh site and threatened to "take it down easily." The first reports of the interview, at 15:38, quoted Trump saying he would destroy a site on Mount Makosh "quite easily" and criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for wanting to "stay involved." The reporting evolved from initial Hebrew-language accounts to corroboration by multiple outlets, including Channel 12 and Fox News.
The president's dual messaging — diplomatic openness alongside military threats — continues a pattern The Zioneer has documented over recent weeks. On Monday, Trump confirmed a meeting with Iran and said the US has "pretty much destroyed" its military (Mon Jul 27). Earlier, on July 21, he pledged to strike Mount Makosh "fairly soon" and declared the US is "not ready to leave" the confrontation. He has also threatened to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges repeatedly, including a warning on July 6 that he could wipe out all power plants within hours.
The interview did not provide details on the timing or nature of the talks with Iran, and it remains unclear whether direct negotiations are underway. Trump's claim that "many Republicans want him to proceed with military action" also leaves open the possibility of further escalation if diplomatic efforts stall.
4 developments
- DevelopingTrump: 'I don't need Bibi to tell me about Mount Makosh' — threatens to take it down if no deal
- DevelopingTrump escalates Mount Makosh threat: 'We will reach the site, tell Iran to prepare'
- DevelopingTrump: US will strike Iran's Mount Makosh 'fairly soon', Iran hasn't seen anything yet
- DevelopingTrump says Iran not ready for a deal but will be soon; threatens to destroy bridges, power plants near Tehran if Hormuz attacks continue
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