US President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations while hailing his coercive decision to impose a naval blockade on Iran, arguing that Tehran has been left with no option but to send representatives to Pakistan for talks with the United States.
Speaking to CNBC, Trump voiced confidence that the “US will end up with a great deal,” while acknowledging the difficulty of the situation. He admitted that the US is “not dealing with the nicest people,” but insisted that Washington is handling matters “successfully.” He went on to describe the naval blockade as a “tremendous success” and said that Iran has “no choice but to send delegation to Pakistan.”
When asked whether he would consider extending the ceasefire if talks appeared to be making progress, Trump was blunt: “I don’t want to do that.” He went a step further, adding, “I expect to be bombing ’cause that would be a better attitude.” He also warned that there is not “much time” left to reach an agreement, though he suggested Iran could find itself on “a very good footing” if a deal is struck with the US.
Trump drew a sharp contrast between Middle Eastern nations and NATO members, arguing that countries in the Middle East have proven to be far more dependable partners. “(Middle East countries) are much better allies than NATO,” he told CNBC. He singled out the United Arab Emirates as “a good ally” and indicated that US support for the country is actively being weighed. “If the UAE had a problem, I find it hard to believe, but if they had a problem, we would be there for them,” Trump said.
Trump’s frustration with Europe has been building. Earlier, he revealed he was seriously considering pulling the United States out of NATO after European allies declined to join the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. He said he no longer viewed Europe as a credible defense partner following their refusal to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz.
The ceasefire itself has come under strain. On Sunday, Iran’s military threatened retaliation over what it described as an American “act of armed piracy,” after a US destroyer opened fire on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman. Washington maintained that the vessel had attempted to evade the naval blockade, while Iran’s military headquarters condemned the incident as a “violation of the ceasefire.”
Trump, however, is not the first to allege a breach during this two-week period.
On the financial front, Trump hinted during the CNBC interview that the US may extend economic assistance, potentially including a currency swap, to Gulf allies who have stood by Washington during the Iran conflict. He confirmed that a currency swap with the UAE is “under consideration,” describing the country as a trusted partner. “It’s been a good ally of ours,” he said. “These are unusual times.”
Trump did, however, seem aware of the political sensitivities surrounding the idea of offering financial support to a wealthy nation. “I’m surprised,” he said. “They’re really rich.” As for Saudi Arabia, Trump said they are not “asking for anything” at this stage but praised their contributions nonetheless. “They’re fighting. They’re helping us,” he said. “They’re helping us on the Strait. They’re helping us all over.”
“The ones that aren’t helping are NATO,” he said. “We’ll never need them. Actually, they’ll need us. They need us desperately, because they’re a paper tiger.”
