Trump rules out ceasefire with Iran, says Israel will agree to end war when he’s ready !!!!
US President Donald Trump on Friday ruled out a ceasefire with Iran, as American officials said more US Marines were headed to the Middle East in a possible sign of a coming ground operation three weeks into the war.
A possible target for the troops could be Iran’s Kharg Island, with the White House telling AFP the United States could “take out” the vital oil hub at any time if Trump chose.
The Axios news outlet reported that Trump was considering an occupation or blockade of the island to pressure Tehran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Trump said “I may have a plan I may not” but refused to tell reporters one way or the other, while describing Kharg as “certainly a place that people are talking about. But I can’t tell you that.”
“We can have dialogue, but I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” Trump told reporters outside the White House.
Asked if Israel will agree to end the war when the US decides to do so, Trump responded, “I think so, yeah.”
“The relationship is a very good one. We want more or less similar things. You know what we want? We want victory — both of us — and that’s what we’ve got,” Trump said.
He also doubled down on his criticism of the NATO military alliance for not heeding his demand for help in securing the narrow waterway, as he blamed Iran’s stranglehold over the strait for the spike in global oil prices.
“So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” Trump posted on his Truth Social network, accusing NATO of failing to join the “fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran.”
“Without the USA, NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!”
Six key powers, including Britain, France, Germany and Japan — whose premier met Trump at the White House on Thursday — say they are ready to “contribute to appropriate efforts” but have not made any commitment. Trump said Friday, “It would be nice” if the countries that rely on the Strait of Hormuz would get involved in helping to keep it open, which he asserted would be a “simple military maneuver” but requires help with “ships” and “volume.”
The strait has “to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other nations who use it,” he added in further comments on the matter. “The United States does not! If asked, we will help these countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy military operation for them.”
The 79-year-old Republican — who rose to power on a promise to end America’s long Middle Eastern wars — nevertheless insisted the joint US-Israeli operation was going “extremely well.”
“It’s not even a contest,” Trump said earlier as he presented naval cadets with an American football trophy at the White House.
The surging oil prices have put pressure on Trump to bring the war to an end, amid Republican fears the economic shock could hurt the party in November’s US midterm elections.
In a later Truth Social post, Trump declared, “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the terrorist regime of Iran.” He proceeded to list what he said were the US military objectives.
“(1) Completely degrading Iranian missile capability, launchers and everything else pertaining to them. (2) Destroying Iran’s defense industrial base. (3) Eliminating their navy and air force, including anti-aircraft weaponry. (4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to nuclear capability, and always being in a position where the USA can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place. (5) Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.”
Destroying Iran’s defense industrial base, eliminating Iran’s air force and anti-aircraft weaponry and protecting US allies in the Middle East were not among the objectives that US officials had given for the war to date.
While the list has fluctuated, US officials have generally stuck to the destruction of Iran’s missile program, the destruction of Iran’s navy, the ending of Iran’s support for armed proxies and ensuring that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon.
More US Marines
Trump has said he does not plan to put boots on the ground in Iran. According to three US officials who spoke with Reuters, the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, along with its Marine Expeditionary Unit of about 2,500 Marines and accompanying warships, would deploy to the region, although they did not say what their role would be.
Two officials said there still was no decision on whether to send troops into Iran itself.
The Marine Corps said in response that the two groups are “deployed at sea,” while the US 3rd Fleet said they are “conducting routine operations.”
A week ago, US media reported a separate deployment to the Middle East of some 2,500 Marines aboard as many as three ships.
A possible mission for the Marines could be an operation against Kharg Island, which handles almost all of Iran’s crude exports.
“We need about a month to weaken the Iranians with aerial attacks, take over the island, catch them by the balls and use this in negotiations,” an unnamed American source told Axios.
“The United States Military can take out Kharg Island at any time if the President gives the order,” White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told AFP when asked about the Axios report.
“Thanks to a detailed planning process, the entire administration is and was prepared for any potential action taken by the terrorist Iranian regime.”
Kelly added that Trump “knew full well that Iran would try to stop the freedom of navigation and free flow of energy, and he has already taken action to destroy over 40 minelaying vessels.”
US forces hit Kharg on Friday in strikes that Trump said had “totally obliterated” all military targets on the island.
Trump has said the United States has so far held off striking the island’s infrastructure, but has threatened to do so if Iran keeps blocking the Strait of Hormuz.