The key facts

  • Trump said the war with Iran is close to ending, but long-term guarantees are required
  • Washington wants to make sure Tehran never obtains nuclear weapons
  • Earlier, Trump said he would end the war 'whenever he wanted,' but that it must be 'done right'

Trump on the conditions for ending the conflict

US President Donald Trump stated at a press conference at the White House that the conflict with Iran is moving quickly toward an end, but Washington needs to make sure that Tehran will not obtain nuclear weapons in the long term. According to him, Tehran must 'never' acquire nuclear weapons, and it is precisely this that needs to be guaranteed, not just for the present moment. This was reported by Gazeta.Ru citing the press conference.

Allies in the region

'All of this is moving quickly toward an end. But we need to take care of those who have treated us so well for many years,' the outlet quotes Trump. The President explained that he was referring to US allies in the region: it is necessary to make sure they have not suffered and will not suffer as a result of the conflict.

Context of previous statements

In early November, Trump said he intended to end the war with Iran whenever he wanted, but that it had to be 'done right.' He also acknowledged that Vice President JD Vance's statement was justified — that the conflict with Tehran had been the main reason for the Republican Party's defeat in the midterm congressional elections. In addition, the Iranian Foreign Minister had earlier threatened to 'unleash hell' on the US if the war continued. Thus, Trump's new statement clarifies his earlier position: the point is not simply a swift end to hostilities, but long-term guarantees regarding Iran's nuclear program and the security of US allies.