Washington, DC – In a lengthy interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes,” US President Donald Trump asserted that the Iranian government seeks an agreement with Washington but is “avoiding announcing it.” He argued that any “good negotiator wouldn’t reveal their intentions prematurely.”
During the interview, which aired Sunday evening, November 1st local time, Trump stated that the agreement with Iran is the key to peace in the Middle East. He also indicated that his administration’s recent actions in the region have been a “game changer,” as he put it.
The US president added that the attacks he ordered targeted “Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.” He asserted that the operation was “a complete success”: “We hit them hard with our magnificent B-2 bombers. Every single missile we launched hit its target with pinpoint accuracy.”
Trump emphasized that Iran’s nuclear facilities were completely destroyed, praising the efforts of the American pilots involved in the operation. He said, “Iran now has no nuclear capabilities.”
Praise for Netanyahu and reservations about the Gaza war
In the interview, Trump discussed his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a “wartime prime minister.” However, he expressed reservations about some of Netanyahu’s decisions during the twelve-day Gaza war.
Trump explained that he had pressured Israel to end the war. However, he emphasized that cooperation between Washington and Tel Aviv was close in dealing with Iran. He said:
“We worked well together on Iran… We targeted them aggressively, and we stopped when we needed to stop.”
Observers believe Trump’s statements represent a mix of diplomatic, political, and military messages. They hint at Washington’s desire to reopen negotiations with Tehran, but simultaneously emphasize the United States’ ability to impose its conditions by force.
