Trump vows US won’t be ‘dragged in’ to war with Iran: ‘I’ll be leading the pack’

WASHINGTON — President Trump promised successful an question and reply published Friday that nan US will not beryllium “dragged in” to a warfare pinch Iran arsenic he seeks to halt nan theocratic authorities from getting a atomic weapon.

In an question and reply pinch Time magazine, Trump said he wasn’t concerned astir Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacking Tehran without his OK — but didn’t disregard nan anticipation of subject action.

“He whitethorn spell into a war. But we’re not getting dragged in,” Trump said of Netanyahu. “I whitethorn spell successful very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll beryllium starring nan pack.”

Trump besides denied reports that he had “stopped” Netanyahu from attacking Iran’s uranium enrichment sites, but added that “I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I deliberation we tin make a woody without nan attack.

“I dream we can. It’s imaginable we’ll person to onslaught because Iran will not person a atomic weapon,” nan president said.

“But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, but I didn’t opportunity no. Ultimately I was going to time off that prime to them, but I said I would overmuch for illustration a woody than bombs being dropped.”

Last week, Netanyahu said successful a video address: “I americium committed to preventing Iran from attaining atomic weapons … I won’t springiness connected this, I won’t fto up connected this, and I won’t retreat from this — not a millimeter.”

The Israeli PM besides claimed if it weren’t for his past actions, “Iran would person had a atomic limb 10 years ago.”

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told ABC News “This Week” past period that Trump believes “all options are connected nan table” to extremity Iran from getting nan bomb, including strikes that cripple its attempts to stockpile missiles and proceed pinch uranium enrichment.

The UN’s atomic watchdog noted successful February that Tehran’s uranium enrichment was nearing weapons-grade levels.

“We cannot person a world pinch nan ayatollahs pinch their digit connected nan atomic button,” Waltz told co-host Martha Raddatz March 16.

“We cannot person a business that would consequence successful an arms title crossed nan Middle East successful position of atomic proliferation. And President Trump is determined, 1 measurement aliases another.”

US and Iranian diplomats person been engaging successful indirect talks astir Tehran’s atomic programme successful nan Middle East and Europe — pinch further deliberations group for Oman this coming weekend.

Special Presidential Envoy for nan Middle East Steve Witkoff, who’s led nan discussions, has besides backed the termination of Iran’s atomic program — aft concisely hinting astatine a deal including “verification” of enrichment levels to artifact Tehran from producing weapons-grade material.

“The speech pinch nan Iranians will beryllium overmuch astir 2 captious points: One, enrichment, arsenic you mentioned — they do not request to enrich past 3.67%,” Witkoff told Fox News’ Sean Hannity past week. “In immoderate circumstances, they’re astatine 60%. In different circumstances, 20%.”

“That cannot beryllium and you do not request to run, arsenic they claim, a ‘civil atomic program’ wherever you’re enriching past 3.67%, truthful this is going to beryllium overmuch astir verification connected nan enrichment program,” he added.

Previous meetings successful Oman and Rome person allowed nan US and Iran to speak from abstracted rooms done mediators.

State Department argumentation readying head Michael Anton is expected to lead nan 3rd information of talks Saturday, his agency told The Times of Israel.

Elsewhere successful his Time interview, Trump blasted erstwhile President Joe Biden for relaxing sanctions connected Iran that allowed its panic proxies to build up munitions — including for Hamas’ penetration of Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023, which killed astir 1,200, including 46 US citizens.

“There was nary money for Hamas. There was nary money for Hezbollah. There was nary money. Iran was collapsed nether Trump, and you cognize that, he knows that, broke,” nan president said of nan Middle East his predecessor inherited.

“When Biden came and he took disconnected each nan sanctions, he fto China and everybody other bargain each nan oil, Iran developed $300 cardinal successful cash over a 4 twelvemonth period,” he added.

“They started backing panic again, including Hamas. Hamas was retired of business. Hezbollah was retired of business. Iran had nary money nether me. I blasted nan Biden administration, because they allowed Iran to get backmost into nan crippled without moving a deal.”