(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump warned Thursday that Iran could face further destruction as Washington considers its next steps in the ongoing conflict, suggesting that a decision could come soon.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said his administration was weighing whether additional measures were necessary to prevent Iran from posing a future threat.
“Now we’ll make a decision: Do we want to go further and just certify it, by certifying it meaning it will never happen again?” Trump said.
“I would rather not destroy the rest of the country, if possible, but maybe I’ll have to. And you’ll know soon enough,” he added.
Trump claimed that Iran could take as long as 25 years to recover from the damage caused by the US-Israeli war that began in February and remains unresolved.
The US president did not specify what further actions Washington might take or provide a timeline for any potential military operation.
Asked about reports that Tehran had submitted a proposal through mediators concerning the future of its nuclear program, Trump maintained that Washington would have the final say on any arrangement.
“They’re not doing anything without our approval,” he said.
His remarks come amid continuing uncertainty over the conflict and diplomatic efforts to address Iran’s nuclear activities.
Trump did not confirm whether the United States had formally received or responded to the reported Iranian proposal.
