New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has said that he only agreed to a ceasefire with Iran as a “favour” to Pakistan, which is acting as a peace negotiator between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One, after concluding his China trip, Trump said, “We did the ceasefire as a request from another nation. I wouldn’t have been in favour of it, but we did it as a favour to Pakistan. They are terrific people, the Field Marshal and the Prime Minister.”
‘Will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapon’
He also said he will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons adding that Tehran should hand over its enriched uranium even as tensions in West Asia continues to escalate.
Citing insufficient guarantees, the US president said he rejected Iran’s peace proposal after reading only the first sentence. “I looked at it, and if I don’t like the first sentence, I just throw it away… if they have any nuclear of any form, I don’t read the rest of their letter,” Trump said.
He also said that US strikes had damaged the nuclear facilities and Iranians didn’t have the technology to retrieve the nuclear fuel. “They came up with a terrible secret. They said that they can’t remove it because they don’t have the technology to remove it. They don’t have the time and the practice,” Trump said.
Trump discussed Iran war with Xi Jinping
The Republican leader also told reporters that he discussed the Iran war with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his 2-day visit. “We did discuss Iran. We feel very similar about [how] we want it to end. We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon. We want the straits open,” Trump said.
The war in West Asia has severely disrupted the flow of energy around the world. Iran has put a virtual chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial waterway — through which around 20 per cent of global energy passes through. While the developments in the region have affected countries around the world, it is Asia that has been badly hit with most countries including India depended on the region for its energy needs.
-
Boxing National Trials: Lovlina Borgohain, Sakshi Chaudhary Seal Asian Games, CWG Spots
-
Mercury Enters Gemini May 17, 2026: Love, Career & Money Predictions For Every Zodiac Sign
-
Despite having PMOS, woman shares how these 7 habits helped her lose 22 kg naturally and go from 80 kg to 58 kg
-
Centre appoints two joint secretaries, joint directors in National Testing Agency
-
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma bats for revival of India-Bangladesh trade ties, border haats
