Trump says U.S. will meet with Iran subsequent week

President Trump says the U.S. will meet with Iran subsequent week, as a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds for now. 

Throughout a information convention Wednesday to cap off the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, the president stated there could also be a proper settlement sooner or later with Iran, however he would not consider one is important as a result of their nuclear websites have been “blown as much as kingdom come.”

“We’ll discuss to them subsequent week, with Iran,” the president advised reporters on the press convention, including that the U.S. goes to “meet” with them, though he did not specify who might be concerned within the assembly or the place it’ll happen. 

“I do not care if I’ve an settlement or not,” he stated. “The one factor we might be asking for is what we have been asking for earlier than about, ‘we wish no nuclear.’ However we destroyed the nuclear. In different phrases, that is destroyed. I stated, ‘Iran won’t have nuclear.’ Effectively, we blew it up. It is blown as much as kingdom come. And so I do not really feel very strongly about it. If we obtained a doc, it would not be unhealthy.”

The president met with different world leaders on the sidelines of the summit, amid cautious optimism concerning the ceasefire the Trump administration brokered. The 12-day battle left 28 folks lifeless in Israel and a whole lot in Iran. 

“It was a 12-day battle. And we predict it is over,” Mr. Trump stated throughout the press convention. “I do not suppose they’ll be going again at one another, I do not suppose so.” 

“As a result of I handled each, they usually’re each drained, exhausted,” Mr. Trump stated. “They fought very, very arduous and really viciously, very violently, they usually have been each glad to go house and get out. And might it begin once more? I suppose some day it may well, it may perhaps begin quickly.”

On the summit, Mr. Trump stated Iran’s enrichment efforts have been set again “principally a long time.” The U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear services have been “very, very profitable. It is referred to as ‘obliteration,'” he stated on the information convention. An preliminary labeled evaluation by the Protection Intelligence Company, nevertheless, estimated the strikes solely set again Tehran’s nuclear program by a matter of months, in keeping with three sources acquainted with its contents.

Concerning the Israel-Hamas battle, Mr. Trump expressed optimism and stated there’s been “nice progress.” 

“I believe nice progress is being made on Gaza,” Mr. Trump stated. “I believe due to this assault that we made, I believe we will have some excellent information.”

On Wednesday, Mr. Trump met with NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte, who complimented the president on his efforts to spice up different international locations’ protection spending and on his efforts within the Center East. 

“You’re a man of power and likewise a person of peace,” Rutte advised Mr. Trump. 

Mr. Trump additionally met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy stated they mentioned “the right way to obtain a ceasefire and an actual peace deal.”

“We recognize the eye and the readiness to assist carry peace shut,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, including, “Particulars will comply with.” 

The president stated of his dialog with Zelenskyy, “I took from the assembly that he’d prefer to see it finish. I believe it is a good time to finish it. I will communicate to Vladimir Putin and see if we are able to get it ended.” 

A Ukrainian BBC reporter, who stated her husband is a soldier in Ukraine, requested the president whether or not the U.S. would offer Ukraine with Patriot missile protection programs, which intercept ballistic missiles.

“They do need to have the anti-missile missiles … the Patriots,” Mr. Trump replied, “and we will see if we are able to make some out there.” He stated the missiles  have been “arduous to get,” and the U.S. has been offering them to Israel. “They’re very efficient — 100% efficient.” 

The president, upon studying that the reporter was dwelling along with her kids in Warsaw whereas her husband fights in Ukraine, stated, “That is tough stuff, proper?” And after he answered her query, he wished her luck and provided his regards to her husband. 

NATO members, with the exceptions of Spain and Slovakia, have agreed to a dramatic improve of their protection spending, to five% of GDP, a purpose pressed by Mr. Trump, although the U.S. protection spending is in need of that focus on. Earlier than leaving for the summit, Mr. Trump stated the U.S. should not have to succeed in that focus on, because it’s contributed a lot to NATO prior to now. 

“This week, the NATO allies dedicated to dramatically improve their protection spending to that 5% of GDP, one thing that nobody actually thought attainable,” Mr. Trump stated at his press convention, including that it will likely be often called “The Hague protection dedication.” 

Requested about Spain’s refusal to decide to the 5% threshold, Mr. Trump stated he favored Spain and its folks, “However Spain is the one nation — out of all different international locations — that refuses to pay,” and he stated it was getting “somewhat little bit of a free journey.” The president went on to say that the U.S. is negotiating with Spain on commerce, and “we will make them pay twice as a lot.”

It is was a whirlwind journey for Mr. Trump, who arrived within the Netherlands on Tuesday and is scheduled to fly again to Washington on Wednesday. 

The president stated he is leaving NATO with a distinct perspective about Article 5 — the settlement that the allies will come to one another’s assist when attacked — after listening to about it immediately from fellow leaders. The president advised reporters he not considers the alliance a “rip-off,” and desires the U.S. to assist defend different NATO nations. 

Weijia Jiang and

Haley Ott

contributed to this report.