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US President Donald Trump has said that Iran is not yet ready for an agreement with Washington, and that the United States must continue its combat operations against Tehran. The comments were reported by TASS, which quoted Trump speaking at an event in Washington.

"We're doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We're doing extremely well. They would like something to do. They're not ready yet. They need more of the same. They're not ready yet," Trump said, according to TASS. He added that Iran has "evil intentions" and that "We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon."

Coverage comparison

TASS reported several related statements from Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth over recent weeks, painting a picture of US policy toward Iran as one of continued military pressure, though with a willingness to hold back strikes for a potential agreement.

In a separate report, TASS quoted Trump as saying he does not like setting deadlines for strikes on Iran. Asked whether US representatives had conveyed a timeframe for possible strikes on bridges in Iran, Trump told reporters, "I don't like giving deadlines." He also said the Iranian leadership should be "better behaved," according to TASS.

Key claims

  • Trump said Iran is not yet ready for an agreement with Washington, and that the US must continue combat operations against Tehran. This was reported by TASS.
  • Trump described Iran's intentions as "evil" and said Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, as reported by TASS.
  • Trump said he does not like setting deadlines for strikes on Iran, and that the Iranian leadership should be "better behaved," according to TASS.
  • Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that the US military is ready to deliver strikes against Iranian territory at a level "not seen since World War 2," writing on social media: "The Department of War was ready to go — and remains ready — at levels not seen since World War 2. Locked and loaded," as reported by TASS.
  • Trump said he called off a planned major strike against Iran to secure an agreement, with the framework of that agreement to include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the elimination of Iran's nuclear threat. This was reported by TASS.
  • Trump compared Iran to a "great boxer" that continues to resist despite repeated US strikes, saying, "They've been degraded to a very low level, and they have fight. You know, it's like a great boxer. You think you have him beat, and then all of a sudden he comes back and he gives you a shot," according to TASS.

Perspectives

  • US administration: President Trump asserts that Iran is not yet ready for a deal, necessitating continued US strikes, while also expressing a willingness to halt strikes if an agreement is reached. Pentagon chief Hegseth underscores the military's readiness for large-scale action.