 "Smoke rising from the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack. A Thai bulk carrier travelling in the crucial Strait of Hormuz was attacked on March 11, with 20 crew members rescued so far, the Thai navy said. AFP")
As the conflict in West Asia continues to intensify, US President Donald Trump has said Washington is not ready to reach a deal with Iran even though Tehran is signalling interest in ending the war.
Speaking in an interview with NBC News, Trump said that while Iran appears willing to negotiate, the United States will only agree to a settlement if the terms are strong enough.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said.
The remarks come as US and Israeli forces continue their military campaign against Iran, with the conflict entering a more volatile phase across the region.
Follow our live coverage on the US-Iran-Israel war here.
Trump: Deal must be ‘very solid’
Trump made it clear that any potential agreement with Iran would have to meet strict conditions. While he did not outline the exact details of what Washington expects, he suggested that Tehran abandoning its nuclear ambitions would likely be central to any future deal.
“It has to be a very solid deal,” Trump said, declining to elaborate further on what specific terms the United States is seeking.
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View AllAt the same time, the US president indicated that discussions are ongoing with several countries to secure maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz , a critical global oil shipping corridor.
Trump said Washington is working with partners to ensure that the waterway remains safe amid rising tensions in the region.
The war in West Asia has already rattled global energy markets, pushing oil prices higher and raising concerns about disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Trump downplayed concerns among Americans over rising fuel prices linked to the conflict.
He also made a striking claim during the interview, questioning whether Iran’s new supreme leader was “even alive”, though he provided no evidence to support the remark.
War continues to escalate
The US-Israeli military operation against Iran began last month and has since triggered retaliatory strikes across the region.
Iran has launched attacks targeting Israel and US positions in neighbouring countries, further widening the conflict.
Despite growing international calls for de-escalation, Trump’s comments suggest that Washington is not prepared to pursue a ceasefire agreement with Tehran unless its demands are met.
For now, the possibility of negotiations appears distant as the war in West Asia continues to unfold.