US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Washington had no immediate plans to launch fresh military strikes against Iran, despite earlier warning Tehran that it faced a choice between reaching a diplomatic agreement and further military action.
Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for a campaign rally in Michigan, Trump dismissed suggestions that American forces could attack Iran as early as Sunday.
“Would I tell you that? But the answer is no. There will not be a strike,” he said when questioned about the possibility of imminent military operations.
The president’s remarks followed an interview with Fox News earlier on Sunday in which he suggested that Washington was weighing a diplomatic settlement against renewed military action.
“Do I make a deal with them, or do I finish them off? That’s the only question,” Trump said.
His comments underscored the uncertainty surrounding US policy towards Tehran as negotiations over a potential agreement continue against the backdrop of the Iran conflict.
On Saturday, Trump had similarly suggested that Washington could either carry out additional military strikes or reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran.
He also questioned whether Tehran would honour any commitments made under a future deal, while maintaining that either military or diplomatic action could produce a favourable outcome for the United States.
Trump also claimed that American forces had established control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important maritime passage for international energy shipments.
“Remember, we now control the Hormuz Strait. They get nothing. Yes, we get everything,” he told Fox News.
The president further asserted that commercial traffic through the waterway had surpassed levels recorded before the conflict.
He praised the US Navy’s enforcement of restrictions on Iranian ports and shipping, describing its operations as “unbelievable.”
The Strait of Hormuz has remained a central point of dispute between Washington and Tehran, particularly over maritime access and restrictions affecting Iranian shipping.