Trump told NBC he won’t make a deal with Iran even though they want one, but he refused to say what terms would actually end the war

President Donald Trump said that he is not ready to make a deal to end the war with Iran, even though Iran has said it wants to negotiate a ceasefire. Trump believes the current terms are not good enough yet, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to grow.

In a nearly 30-minute phone interview with NBC News, Trump said Iran wants to make a deal, but he is holding back because any agreement needs to be “very solid.” When asked what the terms would involve, he refused to explain, saying, “I don’t want to say that to you.” He did confirm that Iran fully giving up its nuclear ambitions would be part of any deal.

The U.S. military operation in Iran began last month with joint U.S. and Israeli strikes. Iran responded by targeting Israel and U.S. assets in nearby countries, which led to the deaths of 13 active U.S. service members, including six crew members who died Friday in a military refueling plane crash in Iraq. Trump said he was “surprised” by Iran’s decision to attack other Middle Eastern countries, calling it “the biggest surprise I had of this whole thing.”

Iran’s neighbors have suffered too, as the war spreads well beyond its borders

Trump said allies like the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have “been terrific” despite being “shot at unnecessarily.” Iran has been firing drones into these nations, along with Bahrain and Kuwait, hitting oil infrastructure, logistics hubs, and government centers.

Trump said U.S. strikes on Kharg Island on Saturday “totally demolished” most of the island, adding, “we may hit it a few more times just for fun.” He also claimed, “We’ve knocked out most of their missiles. We’ve knocked out most of their drones. We knocked out their manufacturing of missiles and drones, largely. Within two days, it’ll be totally decimated.” He noted that energy lines were left intact, saying rebuilding them would take years.

Trump said he is asking “numerous countries that are affected by the thuggery of Iran” to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s leaders have vowed to keep the strait closed, and global oil prices have surged since the war began. It is worth noting that Trump had previously told his team Iran would never close the Strait of Hormuz before ordering strikes. 

Trump said several unnamed countries have already committed to helping, calling it a “great idea.” He specifically named China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK as nations he hopes “will send War Ships” to keep the strait open.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Khamenei was “wounded and likely disfigured” and called his written statement a “weak one.” Separately, Trump also synced real Iran missile strikes to NFL hits in a highlight film that drew reactions from a legendary player.

Trump dismissed concerns about rising gas prices, which have gone from $2.94 a gallon to $3.66 since the U.S. and Israel began attacking Iran. He promised prices would drop after the war ends. “The only thing I want to do is make sure that Iran can never be the bully of the Middle East again,” he said.