Trump claimed Iran had backed away from a negotiated agreement after initially reaching a deal, News.Az reports.
“We had a deal. It was a done deal. And then they broke it. They always break it.”
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Trump argued that U.S. military operations had devastated Iran’s military capabilities and vowed continued action if Tehran attempted to rebuild.
“We’re just going to hit them very hard.”
The president also proposed that the United States assume long-term responsibility for safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz while receiving financial reimbursement from regional allies.
“We’ll become the guardian of the Strait… We should be reimbursed for that.”
Trump contended that previous administrations had allowed Iran’s nuclear ambitions to expand and defended both his withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement and the U.S. strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
He further asserted that recent U.S. bombing raids had prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“Had I not attacked on the B-2 bombers, they would have a nuclear weapon. And right now, the Middle East in its current form would not exist.”
Trump also dismissed reports suggesting Iran remained resilient following the strikes.
“Their entire military is gone. They got nothing. They have no Navy. They have no Air Force. It’s all gone.”
The interview coincided with the second anniversary of the attempted assassination against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, though the president devoted much of the conversation to Graham’s legacy and U.S. policy toward Iran.
