President Donald Trump said Iran wants to make a deal with the United States but is not ready yet [1].
The statement comes amid escalating military tensions, suggesting that the U.S. administration is using targeted strikes as leverage to force a diplomatic breakthrough.
Trump said Saturday, July 13, that Iran is "getting hit so hard" and could be ready for an agreement very soon [2]. This follows reports of U.S. strikes targeting power plants and activity near the Hormuz Strait [2]. The pressure from these military actions is what Trump said makes Tehran more likely to consider a deal [2].
However, the president's rhetoric regarding the Iranian government has shifted rapidly. While he spoke of a potential agreement this past week, he called the Iranian leadership "scum" on July 10 [3]. This follows a period approximately three weeks ago when Trump praised Iran [4].
The current state of the conflict remains volatile. While the president suggests a deal is approaching, other reports indicate the ceasefire is over and that the U.S. has entered a second night of strikes on Iran [5].
Trump said, "Iran wants to make a deal, but they're not ready yet" [1]. He said that the current level of military pressure is necessary to bring the other side to the table. The administration has not provided a specific timeline for when negotiations might officially resume, or what the terms of such a deal would entail.
“"Iran wants to make a deal, but they're not ready yet."”
The contradictory nature of the president's statements—alternating between calling Iranian leadership 'scum' and suggesting a deal is imminent—reflects a 'maximum pressure' strategy. By combining military strikes with the promise of a diplomatic exit, the U.S. is attempting to destabilize the Iranian government's resolve to secure concessions on its own terms.
