"We win regardless...": US President Donald Trump remarks on US-Iran talks in Islamabad
Washington DC, April 12
US President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed strong confidence in America's position amid ongoing high-level US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, stating that Washington stands to "win" regardless of whether a deal is reached.
On US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, US President Donald Trump said, "They've been meeting for many hours. We will see what happens. Regardless of that, we win. Maybe they make a deal; maybe they don't. It doesn't matter. From the standpoint of America, we win. The boats are sailing up and heading out to our country. We are loading the huge tankers with oil and gas."
The remarks come amid continued diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran, with key issues including maritime security and energy flows through strategic routes such as the Strait of Hormuz believed to be central to the discussions.
Responding to a query by ANI on whether the United States would consider releasing Iranian assets, Trump reiterated his stance that the outcome of the negotiations would not alter America's strategic advantage.
"We will see what happens. We are in a deep negotiation with Iran, we win regardless. We have defeated them militarily... We are sweeping the Strait. Whether we make a deal or not, it makes no difference to me and the reason is because we've won... We were not helped by NATO," Trump added.
Meanwhile, the first phase of in-person talks between the United States and Iran concluded in Islamabad late on Saturday night after several hours of negotiations involving multiple stakeholders, marking a significant development in ongoing diplomatic discussions.
Following the discussions, both delegations exchanged written texts to document and confirm areas of understanding reached during the day, according to Iranian state media Press TV. The exchange is seen as an effort to formalise progress made during the face-to-face engagement.
The development comes after an initial round of discussions concluded earlier, paving the way for continued negotiations between the delegations. The talks are being seen as a key diplomatic effort to reduce tensions and explore possibilities of a structured understanding between the United States and Iran.
According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, the latest round of negotiations extended into late-night deliberations, indicating the urgency and sensitivity surrounding the dialogue process. The report stated that key representatives from both sides were present in Islamabad for the discussions, reflecting the high-level nature of the engagement.
On the US side, Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner, who is also the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, are part of the delegation. The Iranian delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and senior diplomat Ali Bagheri Kani.
"It seems that this is the last chance for the Iranian team to reach a common framework in this round of talks," Tasnim news agency reported.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The focus on oil tankers and the Strait of Hormuz is the real story. A huge portion of India's oil imports pass through that chokepoint. Any US-Iran deal that ensures safe passage and stable supplies is a win for us too. Hope the diplomacy succeeds, for everyone's sake. 🙏
"We have defeated them militarily..." Such a disrespectful way to speak before negotiations. How can you build trust with the other side? This is not how diplomacy works. A respectful criticism - this approach by the US leadership is counterproductive to long-term peace.
As someone living in India, I see this from a regional perspective. More stability between US and Iran means less tension in our neighborhood. That's always good. But the "winner takes all" mentality is worrying. International relations should be about mutual benefit, not just one side winning.
The mention of loading tankers with oil and gas is telling. It's all about energy security and economics. For India, which has good relations with both Iran and the US, a peaceful resolution is the best outcome. Hope the talks in Islamabad yield something concrete this time.
Trump saying "we were not helped by NATO" is a side comment but speaks volumes. The US going it alone on big issues. As an Indian, I hope our foreign policy maintains strategic autonomy and doesn't get too tightly bound to any one power's way of thinking. Jai Hind!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.