Trump Says Negotiations With Iran Could Resume ‘Maybe At Some Point’

ISTANBUL, Aug 20  (Bernama-Anadolu) -- US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that negotiations with Iran for a deal to cease hostilities could resume “maybe at some point,” also reiterating his assertion that the US has “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

“Right now, I think the situation is so good,” Trump told reporters when asked about the Iran war, adding that the talks could resume “maybe at some point.”

Turning to Iran having a nuclear weapons capability, he said: “They have to get rid of completely. They have to get rid of no nuclear weapon. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. You know why? Because they'd use it, and we're not going to let them use it. So Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and they won't.”

He said: “We have possession, complete control of the Strait (of Hormuz). I mean, outside of nuisance value, and there is nuisance value when they shoot a drone every once in a while.”

Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending the war and paving the way for a broader agreement, but the arrangement later broke down amid mutual accusations of violations and renewed hostilities.

Diplomatic efforts have since failed to produce a breakthrough on reopening the Strait of Hormuz or resuming negotiations toward a broader agreement.

Trump later told reporters at the White House that he could impose “very draconian sanctions” on Iran while asserting that the Strait of Hormuz remains open.

"That may slow down a little bit at some point. But right now, a lot of boats are coming through. The naval blockade has been extremely effective," he said.

"We opened it purposely with a deal. But the deal didn't terminate, the deal didn't turn out to be what they said, when they tell us one thing and they do another," he added.

On rising gas prices, he said countries and US states had turned to alternative sources of oil and that new pipelines were being built.

“But the other thing that's happened is people have found other alternatives which they never thought about: Texas, Alaska, Louisiana, and other places,” Trump said.

“In addition, a lot of pipelines. Record numbers of pipelines are being built,” he added.

“So I think the Hormuz Strait is not going to be quite as important as it was in the past,” Trump said.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU