President Donald Trump said early Wednesday morning that he held talks with Iran on Tuesday and told them to make a deal, adding that he will decide when the US strikes on Iran end. 'They are fighting but they don't have much left,' he said, according to reports.
President Donald Trump confirmed early Wednesday (Jul 15) that his administration held direct talks with Iran on Tuesday, and stated that he will decide when the US air campaign against Iran ends. 'They are fighting but they don't have much left,' he said, according to reports. The new statement refines his earlier account: at 01:24 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Trump claimed his representatives held contacts with Iran today (Wednesday) and warned that if no deal is reached, 'there will be nothing left for you.' Now, Trump says those talks occurred on Tuesday, shifting the timeline.
The thread of statements began at 01:15 Jerusalem, when initial reports cited Trump saying strikes will continue until he says 'enough' and that energy infrastructure targets are being saved for later. At 01:24, The Zioneer reported that Trump said his representatives held contacts with Iran earlier that day (Wednesday). By 03:25, Trump reiterated that strikes will continue until he says 'enough,' and that energy targets are reserved for the final phase. The new statement, reported early Wednesday, adds confirmation of Tuesday talks and Trump's exclusive role in deciding when the strikes end.
As The Zioneer has reported in recent weeks, Trump has pursued a dual-track strategy of military pressure and diplomatic outreach. On Tuesday (Jul 14), he said the US is suppressing Iran's offensive capabilities and sees a possibility of a deal. On Jun 9, he said the US continues talks with Iran and may have an idea within a day or two. The policy of nightly strikes was formalized on Jun 11, when Trump decided to strike every night until a deal is reached.
Remaining unclear: the exact nature of the Tuesday talks — whether direct or indirect, at what level — and why Trump's earlier account placed the contacts on Wednesday. The statement that Iran 'called seeking a deal' was reported separately on Jul 9, but not confirmed in this thread.
5 developments
- StrongTrump Decides: US to Strike Iran Every Night Until a Deal Is Reached
- DevelopingTrump tells NYT he will 'renew military attacks' on Iran if nuclear talks falter
- StrongTrump says US military operations against Iran could last two to three weeks
- DevelopingTrump tells Fox News: 'We haven't hit Iran hard enough yet'
Source and signal
- Internal intake