Trump allowed the possibility of a military operation against Iran

US President Donald Trump said he was ready to negotiate with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, but admits that the US may cause a military strike on the Islamic Republic.

“There is always the possibility of a military operation. Do I want it? No, I wouldn’t want to. But the probability of [a strike on Iran] is always there,” the US President said, answering the question of what he thinks about potential military actions against Iran.

According to Trump, at the time when he became President, this country was “extremely hostile.” “At that time, they were the number one terrorist country in the world and may remain so today,” the US leader said.

Answering the question of whether he is ready to negotiate with Rouhani, Trump replied: “Yes, of course, I would prefer negotiations.”

Relations between Washington and Tehran deteriorated after Trump came to power. He announced the cancellation of US obligations in the framework of the so-called nuclear deal, involving the lifting of sanctions against Iran in exchange for its refusal to develop military nuclear technology.

In November 2018, the US resumed sanctions pressure on Tehran, announcing that the purpose of sanctions is to force Iran to “change its behavior.” The US also declared the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization.

In response, Iran recognized the Central command of the US armed forces (CentCom) as a terrorist organization and the United States itself as a “state sponsor of terrorism.” The leaders of both countries regularly exchange threats in the public field.

Against the background of the conflict, the US sent a strike group led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln to the Persian Gulf and reported that it was a “signal to the Iranian regime.”

Soon after, Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran does not seek a military confrontation with the United States. According to him, there will be no war with the US, as “the Iranian people chose the path of resistance to America, and this resistance will force it to retreat.”