If an agreement with Iran to limit its nuclear programme proves elusive, the US could spearhead military action against it, President Donald Trump said in an interview published on Friday.
Trump’s comments, in an interview with Time magazine marking his first three months in office, came as US and Iranian officials were set to meet for the third consecutive Saturday in an effort to reach an agreement that would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. After being asked if he was worried that Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu might drag him into a war with Iran, Trump said: “I may go in very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack.”
Trump has said he thought the talks between the US and Iran were going well, but officials on both sides have not achieved a breakthrough.
Netanyahu has expressed openness to diplomacy if it leads to the full dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme – a demand that Iranian officials have rejected. Some Israeli officials have expressed concerns that the US could agree to a deal that leaves some of Iran’s nuclear programme in place.
Last week, NYT reported Israel had planned an attack on Iranian nuclear sites, but was held back by Trump, who expressed support for attempting to negotiate an agreement with Iran first. Trump said he did not stop Israel from attacking Iran, but “didn’t make it comfortable for them.” Trump also said he was open to meeting with Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or its president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
