U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he is not considering the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, emphasizing that, in his estimation, the country’s military potential is already seriously weakened by conventional means.
On Thursday evening, Trump made several statements about the Middle East crisis during a press conference at the White House, according to the BBC’s Russian Service.
He called a journalist’s question about a nuclear strike “stupid”:
“Why do I need this?” he asked in response. “Why should I use nuclear weapons if we have completely destroyed them by conventional means, without using them? No one should be allowed to use nuclear weapons.”
Shortly before the announcement of the ceasefire in the conflict with Iran, Donald Trump was making harsh threats against the Iranian authorities.
He spoke of the risk of “the death of an entire civilization,” which some commentators perceived as a hint at the possible use of weapons of mass destruction. Among other things, Trump mentioned readiness to destroy the country’s key infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.
At the moment, it remains unclear whether the US and Iran are ready to return to peace talks. The meeting scheduled for this week in Pakistan did not take place: the Iranian side refused to participate, citing the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by the US.
Earlier, Donald Trump stated that by the end of the week there might be “good news” regarding the negotiations, but no new details have emerged so far.
On Tuesday, he also announced that the ceasefire regime with Iran has been extended indefinitely and emphasized that he expects specific proposals from Tehran. Iran considered this a ploy.
Amid the bombings of Iran, trade with Tajikistan has decreased by almost 10%
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and military escalation
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains extremely tense. The strait is effectively blocked: Iran is restricting the passage of ships associated with US allies, and American forces are maintaining a naval blockade.
The US reported intercepting the tanker M/T Majestic X carrying Iranian oil, as well as ordering 33 ships back to ports and intending to stop any vessels suspected of supporting Tehran. In response, Iran called the US actions “piracy” and announced the seizure of two cargo ships.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also reported shelling of ships in the strait. According to the Financial Times, some of the seized ships have been directed to Iranian ports, including Bandar Abbas.
The Pentagon, in turn, dismissed reports of a possible multi-month blockade of the strait. Department spokesman Sean Parnell told the BBC that the scenario of closing the strait for half a year is “impossible.”
Varesh Airlines resumes flights between Mashhad and Dushanbe amid the suspension of hostilities
The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
Separately, Donald Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon for another three weeks. The decision was made after negotiations at the White House.
The US also intends to assist Lebanon in countering Hezbollah. Trump added that he plans to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington soon.
Pezeshkian: the blockade by the US and threats hinder negotiations with Washington
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain: both sides continue to accuse each other of strikes. Lebanon reported the death of a journalist as a result of an airstrike, while Israel claimed it acted for security reasons.
Hezbollah had earlier expressed its readiness to cease shelling on the condition of the withdrawal of Israeli troops and adherence to the “quiet for quiet” principle, but the Israeli side did not accept these conditions.
