President Trump told The Post on Monday he is “not open” to any concessions for Tehran after receiving the latest disappointing Iranian response on peace deal talks.
And in an ominous foreshadowing, Trump said Iran knows “what’s going to be happening soon.”
In the brief phone interview The Post, Trump seemingly shut the door to Iran’s Sunday offer for a diplomatic talks.
Asked about his Friday remark that he’d be willing to accept a 20-year moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment, Trump interjected: “I’m not open to anything right now.”
The president declined to get into any detail.
“I can’t really talk to you about it. Too many things are happening,” he said.
Back from a whirlwind trump to China, Trump reportedly spent the weekend huddling with his national security team at his Virginia golf club plotting next steps on Iran. More meetings are expected on Tuesday as hawkish allies, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) are urging Trump to resume military operations against Iran as diplomacy stalls.
Trump said he’s not “frustrated” with Tehran, while making clear that Iran is fully aware the United States can inflict more pain.
“I can tell you they want to make a deal more than ever, because they know we’re—what’s going to be happening soon,” Trump said.
Questioned about regional source claims that Iran is attempting to “wait out” Washington on both the nuclear issue and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said he “hadn’t heard that.”
“I’m not hearing anything,” he said. “I can’t talk to you about it.”
“It’s a negotiation. I don’t want to be stupid.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a question about the US response to Iran’s latest offer.
