US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader is involved in negotiations with Washington, saying the situation in Iran is changing rapidly and that he remains hopeful a deal can be reached.
In a podcast interview broadcast on Wednesday, Trump also acknowledged using a tough tone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over continued fighting in Lebanon, as the United States tries to negotiate an end to hostilities with Iran.
Trump says Iran talks are moving forward
Trump said Washington had been told that Iran’s Supreme Leader was involved in the negotiations.
“We have been told that the Iranian Supreme Leader is involved in the negotiations,” Trump said.
He added that he may meet Iran’s Supreme Leader at some point in the future. According to Trump, the situation in Iran is changing quickly and he hopes the results will be positive.
“The situation in Iran is changing rapidly,” he said, adding that he expected “very good” outcomes.
Trump says US trying to make a deal
The US president said his administration is trying to reach an agreement with Tehran. He claimed Iran has agreed that it will not acquire nuclear weapons.
Trump has repeatedly said that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is a key priority for Washington. Iran, however, has said it will not agree to a deal with the United States to end the war unless any ceasefire also covers Lebanon.
Trump also claimed that the United States had destroyed Iran’s air force, navy and defense system.
“We have destroyed Iran’s air force, navy and defense system,” he said.
Despite those claims, Trump said there was currently no need to send US ground troops into Iran. “There is no need to send ground troops to Iran at this time,” he said.
Strait of Hormuz blockade remains in place
Trump said the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains in place. He also predicted that gasoline prices would fall once the conflict with Iran ends.
According to Trump, gasoline prices will come down in the near future as tensions ease.
Trump admits tough call with Netanyahu
Trump also acknowledged that he had spoken to Netanyahu in a tough and angry tone over Israel’s actions in Lebanon.
In an interview on the “Pod Force One” podcast, Trump was asked whether he had called Netanyahu “effing crazy” and accused him of ingratitude, based on a report by Axios.
“I did,” Trump said. He added: “I wouldn’t say angry. I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon, you know.”
Trump said he and Netanyahu still get along very well.
According to the Axios report, which cited an unidentified US official, Trump used stronger language during a phone call with Netanyahu on Monday.
The report said Trump told Netanyahu: “You’re fucking crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”
Trump did not deny the substance of the exchange when asked about it in the podcast interview. “At some point I said, Bibi, we got to stop this. We got to stop it,” Trump said.
Trump worried about Israeli attacks in Lebanon
Trump said his concern centered on Netanyahu’s continued military operations in Lebanon. The US is trying to negotiate an end to the war with Iran, but Tehran has linked any agreement to a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Iran says it will not agree to a US deal unless the ceasefire also covers Lebanon, where Israel launched an invasion in March against the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia.
Hezbollah had fired across the border in support of Tehran.
Hostilities in Lebanon have continued despite a US-mediated agreement announced Monday. That agreement led Israel to step back from attacking Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut.
It also led the Iran-backed group to halt cross-border strikes. However, violence has not stopped completely.
Trump rejects claim Netanyahu pushed him into Iran war
Trump bristled when asked whether Netanyahu had “tricked” him into attacking Iran. He said critics making such claims were “the enemy.”
The president has used strong language about Israel in the past as well. Last year, he publicly said Israel and Iran “don’t know what the fuck they are doing.”
Trump’s comments come at a sensitive moment for US diplomacy in the Middle East. Washington is trying to secure a deal with Tehran while managing Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon and the wider regional fallout of the Iran conflict.
Trump insists talks with Iran are continuing, but Tehran’s demand that Lebanon be included in any ceasefire has complicated the path toward an agreement.
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