US President Donald Trump said Washington will “declare total victory” over Iran within the next two weeks, framing the standoff as nearing resolution during a tele-rally for South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham ahead of the Republican primary on Tuesday.
“We’re negotiating now, and they want to make a very good deal. They’re willing to give us everything, they’re willing to give us no nuclear weapon,” Trump said in remarks reported by CNN.
“I think we are winning that battle, but you’re really going to win it over the next two weeks when we declare total victory. It’ll be a total victory, it’ll happen very soon, and oil prices will come tumbling down,” he added.
It is not the first time Trump has anchored a major announcement to a two-week window. The ceasefire welcomed by Sri Lanka’s MFA in April was initially framed as a two-week pause for the two sides to conclude a deal — a window that has since been extended and tested by renewed exchanges over the weekend.
Asked on Meet the Press why Tehran has yet to sign on if it is as eager for a deal as he has repeatedly claimed, the president said Iran is “strong” and “proud” and faces concessions “they never thought they’d be doing.” Iran’s foreign ministry has publicly rejected earlier US framings of an outline agreement, particularly conditions on the Strait of Hormuz.
The “tumbling” oil-prices forecast follows a Monday rebound in Brent crude past US$95 on the Israel–Iran missile exchange — leaving Sri Lanka’s CPC fuel-import bill exposed if the war-risk premium does not recede on Trump’s two-week timetable.
Source: CNN via Ada Derana
