Oil Edges Lower on Trump Remarks

President Donald Trump signaled that the U.S. is unlikely to resume military strikes against Iran, provided negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz make progress. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump struck a cautiously optimistic tone on the prospect of a deal while making clear that American military forces remain ready for further action. Trump Repeatedly Says Renewed Iran Strikes Are ‘Highly Unlikely’ Trump said the likelihood of renewed U.S. military action against Iran was "highly unlikely" as long as Tehran agrees to a strong deal addressing Washington’s concerns. "It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement. The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary," he added, repeating the assessment multiple times during the conversation. Trump argued that Iran was under mounting economic pressure, pointing to inflation and the impact of U.S. military strikes and sanctions, while adding that the Iranian regime wants a deal "badly." Read Also: Trump Calls Democrats' Impeachment Threats 'Extortion at the Highest Level' — Orders DOJ Probe The diplomatic situation remains uncertain, however, with negotiations involving regional mediators continuing amid tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and its control of the Strait of Hormuz. ‘Fully Locked And Loaded’: Trump Says US Forces Ready For Another Attack Despite repeatedly downplaying the likelihood of renewed hostilities, Trump emphasized that U.S. forces remain positioned to launch another military operation if necessary. "We’re ready for it. I’ve got three aircraft carriers here. The other one just arrived. We have three. They’re fully locked and loaded," he told CNN. Trump also revealed that Washington had identified critical infrastructure targets inside Iran, including power plants and bridges, should he authorize another round of attacks. However, the president added that he would prefer to avoid destroying the country’s infrastructure, arguing that rebuilding it could take years. "I don’t want to do that because essentially, it’ll take 10 years to rebuild them," he said. "I don’t like ripping down bridges. And the hardest thing to build is a bridge. It takes years, and I’m a good builder." Trump also noted that Iran’s air defenses had been destroyed and offered estimates of the country’s remaining military capabilities. He said Tehran retained approximately 10% of its missile capacity and 15% of its drone capabilities, arguing that much of its weapons manufacturing infrastructure had been eliminated. Read Also: Trump Signals Cabinet Shake-Up After Midterm Losses — Says 'Maybe a Few Changes' Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published editors. Photo courtesy: Shutterstock