Donald Trump claims a senior defence official urged military action against Iran, revealing escalating tensions and ongoing negotiations in the Middle East.
Key Points
- Donald Trump claims a senior official, possibly Pete Hegseth, advocated for military action against Iran.
- Trump stated Iran is close to having a nuclear weapon and has been a 'purveyor of terror' for 47 years.
- The US President announced a five-day delay of military action against Iranian power plants and energy sites.
- Trump claims the US and Iran have had 'very good and productive conversations' aimed at resolving hostilities.
- The decision to postpone strikes is based on the 'tenor and tone' of ongoing discussions with Iran.
United States President Donald Trump said that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was the "first one" to suggest attacking Iran when he discussed the "problem in the Middle East" with his close aides.
Speaking at the Memphis Safe Task Force Roundtable in Tennessee, on Monday, Trump said he called all his aides, including Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Air Force Gen Dan Caine, to discuss the situation in Iran before making the decision.
"I called Pete, I called General Caine. I called a lot of our great people… And I said, 'Let's talk. We got a problem in the Middle East. We have a country, known as Iran, that for 47 years has been just a purveyor of terror, and they're very close to having a nuclear weapon. We can keep going and get that 50,000 up to 55 and 60, there's no end, or we can take a stop and make a little journey into the Middle East and eliminate a big problem," Trump said.
Trump, who is facing backlash in his country over the issue, praised Hegseth for his quick response on the issue.
"Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up and you said let's do it because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon," he said.
US Pauses Military Action Against Iran
Earlier, Trump said on social media that he has extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically-located shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and that he will hold off strikes against Iranian energy sites for five days.
The US president, without sharing any details, also said that there have been "productive conversations" between the US and Iran for "complete and total resolution" to the conflict in West Asia.
Iran has denied Trump's claim, calling it "fake news."
"No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," posted on social media.
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