On Saturday, President Donald Trump turned down Iran's proposal for a seven-day cease-fire to halt the war and said again that Iran can never get a nuclear weapon.
Speaking to reporters at the White House ahead of his trip to Tennessee, Trump declared, "I reject their proposal." He signaled that he intends to keep up American pressure on Tehran, arguing that Iranian leaders are eager to reach an agreement.
Just before leaving, the president also took to Truth Social to repeat his position that "IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!!!" He characterized Iran, worn down by the conflict, as coming to the table from a weakened position.
Trump dismissed Iran’s offer on Friday, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The deal would have included reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He privately told advisers that he anticipates restarting airstrikes on Iran once the midterm elections are over, according to the report.
Under the proposed deal, Iran would also have entered a new round of nuclear negotiations if the US agreed to end its naval blockade, which has severely strained the country's economy.
Iran, for its part, said on Saturday that American interests could face serious danger if Washington "makes a mistake," according to the Mehr news agency.
"Iran will not start the war, but if the enemy imposes it, Iran is ready to defend its security and territorial integrity,” the statement added.
Earlier this week, Trump warned Iran during a speech at the UN General Assembly that if the regime does not make a deal, he may have to make the decision to “annihilate the Islamic Republic [of Iran] and do it quickly.”
