Trump reviews Iran deal, hints troop cuts
Washington, May 3
US President Donald Trump said he is reviewing a new Iranian proposal to end the conflict and signalled openness to further military and strategic moves, including eliminating Tehran's remaining missile capability and reducing American troop levels in Europe.
Trump spoke briefly to reporters on the tarmac before departure from Palm Beach. "We're doing very well with regard to Iran. They want to make a deal," he said.
He confirmed he is examining a reported 14-point proposal from Tehran. "I'm looking at it... I'll let you know about it later," he said.
In separate remarks from the same exchange, Trump described Iran as weakened. "They wanna make a deal, they're decimated. They're having a hard time figuring out who their leader is," he said.
Asked about the remaining portion of Iran's missile capability, which he estimated at about 15 per cent, Trump said he would like to see it removed. "Well, I'd like to eliminate it. Yeah. I'd like to. It'd be a start for them to build up again, and yeah, I would like to eliminate it," he said.
He declined to specify conditions for further US military action but did not rule it out. "If they misbehave if they do something bad... it's a possibility that could happen. Certainly," he said.
Trump also defended ongoing US enforcement measures in the region, calling them stable. "Well, it's a very friendly blockade. Nobody's even challenging it. Nobody at all is challenging it," he said.
On the economic front, he left open the possibility of American energy companies operating in Iran. "Could be. It could be," he said.
He pointed to strong US oil shipments. "We have a lot of ships coming up to Texas and Louisiana... literally hundreds of ships are in line... we're selling a lot of oil," he said.
Separately, Trump said the United States will reduce its troop presence in Germany beyond earlier expectations. "We're gonna cut way down and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000," he said.
He also criticised congressional scrutiny of military actions, saying it weakens negotiations. He said such moves are "hurting our negotiating ability, which is infinite right now."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Yaar, it's so confusing! One day he says Iran is decimated, next day they're talking deals. And then he calls it a "friendly blockade" - how can a blockade be friendly? 🤔 These negotiations are like a Bollywood drama, twist aayega pakka. But honestly, if it leads to less tension in West Asia, that's good for our energy security.
Here's the thing - Trump says "If they misbehave" about Iran, but who defines misbehaviour? The US has been bombing countries for decades based on such vague terms. India should maintain its independent position and not get drawn into any new alliances. Chaddi buddy or not, we need to think about our own interests first. Also, troop cuts in Germany? Europe better start waking up.
Interesting that he's not ruling out American oil companies in Iran. That's a big shift from the maximum pressure policy. Our refineries that process Iranian crude might finally get some relief if sanctions ease. But I'm skeptical - Trump's record on following through with Iran promises is not great. Let's see if this 14-point proposal actually materializes into something concrete.
Trump says Congress scrutinizing military actions hurts negotiations. That's actually a feature of democracy, not a bug! India's parliament also debates such matters - it's what separates us from autocracies. The real issue is that these "negotiations" are happening with US having all the leverage. Iran is in a corner and that never leads to stable long-term peace.
Reading between the lines: Trump wants a "win" before the
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