US President Donald Trump said he had no immediate plans to strike Iran but was prepared to act if necessary, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.
“We seem to be getting everything we want,” Trump told the newspaper in a telephone interview, playing down speculation that Washington was preparing to escalate its conflict with Tehran after the US midterm elections.
Asked about suggestions from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that an attack could come later this week, Trump said: “We’re locked and loaded if we need to go, but there may be no reason for it.”
His comments came hours before polls closed in congressional elections dominated in part by concerns over inflation and rising fuel prices following the US decision to go to war with Iran.
The United States launched air strikes on targets on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, describing the operation as a defensive measure to protect American military assets in the Middle East.
Trump told the FT that more oil was now passing through the strait, a vital route for Gulf crude supplies, than before the war. He also said a US blockade of Iranian ports was hurting Tehran’s economy.
“It’s a brilliant situation,” he said.
Trump said indirect talks with Iran were continuing over its stockpile of enriched uranium, which he calls “nuclear dust.”
“Even though it’s under hundreds of tons of rock, I would say that I’m not happy that it will be there,” he said. “We’re having discussions, and we’ll see how that all works out.”
Hopes of a breakthrough in US-Iran talks have helped push down oil prices in recent days, with Brent crude falling by more than $10 a barrel to around $104. US petrol prices, however, reached a new record average on Tuesday.
Ahead of the midterm vote, polls pointed to a possible victory for Democrats, who could win control of both chambers of Congress. Republicans have been counting on Trump to mobilise his supporters and help the party retain control.
