Trump: I do not want the Kurds to enter Iran

US President Donald Trump made statements to reporters on the plane while returning to Florida after attending a ceremony for the remains of 6 soldiers who died in the Iran war. Emphasizing that they are very saddened by the fallen soldiers, Trump nevertheless said that they are winning the war against Iran by a wide margin.

Expressing that everyone is proud of the US soldiers who died on the front lines, Trump said, "We have destroyed their evil empire. The war will continue for a while longer."

Responding to a question about how much longer the operation would continue, Trump assessed, "We have achieved more in a week than everyone thought was possible. We destroyed their navy, their 44 ships. We destroyed their air force, every single plane. We destroyed most of their missiles. You see, not many missiles are coming anymore. We also hit the production sites where they manufacture missiles very hard. Their drone capacity has dropped significantly. And we hit them where it hurts the most; we destroyed everything, including all levels of their leadership."

Emphasizing that he does not know for sure how long the operation will last, Trump said, "No matter how long it takes, their military is almost gone." Trump stated that they could carry out more intense attacks on the Iranian military.

"THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 47 YEARS AGO"

Responding to a question about whether he is worried about energy prices with a "No," Trump said, "This was something that should have been done 47 years ago. It took 47 years to do this, and no president had the courage to do it." Stating that the US could suffer more casualties in the war, Trump commented, "I say this with regret, but it is a bad part of this war."

TRUMP BLAMES IRAN FOR THE SCHOOL ATTACK

Regarding the attack on a school in Iran that resulted in the deaths of approximately 175 civilians, mostly students, Trump said, "Based on what I have seen, I think Iran did it. Because as you know, their ammunition is not accurate at all. This attack was carried out by Iran."

"IF RUSSIA IS PROVIDING INTELLIGENCE TO IRAN, THAT IS NOT VERY GOOD"

Clarifying his demand for "unconditional surrender" regarding Iran, Trump reiterated that this could happen not only through an official declaration by Iran but also through the complete military neutralization of Iran. Regarding allegations that Russia is providing intelligence support to Iran, Trump commented, "No, I have not received such information. There is no indication of that. If they are doing it, that is not very good. Because Iran is in a very bad situation."

"WE WILL BE RID OF A GREAT CANCER"

Trump was also asked about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Stating that it was their own choice for ships not to pass through there, Trump said, "We destroyed Iran's navy. Their navy is at the bottom of the sea right now. So this is a choice." Acknowledging that oil prices might rise in the short term, Trump said, "But they will fall very quickly. And we will be rid of a very, very great cancer on earth. We will have rooted out a cancer. You know, don't forget October 7. Don't forget all those things that happened over the years. All of it, all of it happened because of these people. So what we are doing is a great thing not just for our country, not just for Israel, not just for the Middle East, but for the whole world."

TRUMP'S STATEMENT ON OIL RESERVES

Stating that there will be no problems regarding oil, Trump said, "Our country has a tremendous amount, and there is a lot of oil out there." When asked, "Would you consider using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?" Trump replied, "Yes. I am the one who filled them. Biden used those reserves to get a few extra votes in the election. It turned out he wasn't the one running in the end. It was Kamala. And frankly, she didn't get any extra votes because we won by a clear and overwhelming margin. She shouldn't have used those reserves for that purpose. I had filled them, she used them to get votes, and she brought them to their lowest level ever."

"THERE WAS TOTAL DESTRUCTION AT THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITIES"

Trump avoided giving a definitive answer to the question of whether he is considering using ground forces to take control of oil facilities in Iran. Stating that they could take action to secure the enriched uranium at Iran's nuclear facilities, Trump said, "We will find out. We haven't talked about it, but there was total destruction at their nuclear facilities. They couldn't reach it. And at some point, maybe we will. You know, that would be a great thing, but right now we are just smashing them. However, we haven't gone after the enriched uranium. But you know, this is something we can do later. We won't do it now. Maybe we will do it later."

"WE WANT A PEACEFUL LEADER IN IRAN"

Reminded that he wants to be involved in the selection of a new leader in Iran, Trump emphasized that he wants a peaceful administration, saying, "We don't want to come back and do this every 5 or 10 years. That's why we want to elect a president who will not drag his country into a war."

WITKOFF: "IF THEY WANT A DEAL, THEY NEED TO CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE"

Trump's Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, who represents the US in nuclear negotiations with Iran, stated that the diplomatic option is still possible, but the decision depends on Trump. Reiterating the claim that Iran is unwilling to make a deal, Witkoff said, "They didn't seem very compliant in the negotiations. You heard my previous statements. They said, 'We have an inalienable right to enrichment.' They boasted about 'having enough 60 percent enriched nuclear fuel for 11 bombs.' They told me and Jared Kushner, 'We will not give you through diplomatic means what you cannot take militarily.' So, you see, I think they will need to change their attitude."

When asked, "What is your expectation for a possible deal? I mean, do you think you have the upper hand in negotiations right now?" Witkoff replied, "I think the president has proven that we do."

TRUMP'S CRITICISM OF THE UK

Taking the floor again after Witkoff, Trump said that it is Iran, not them, that is currently seeking a deal. Criticizing the British government for failing to provide the defense support they requested in a timely manner, Trump said, "We don't need them. It's not the right time. It would have been nice to have their aircraft carriers two weeks ago." Regarding Iran's criticisms that the US hit a seawater desalination plant, Trump said, "I mean, I don't know anything about this issue other than that they are complaining about a desalination plant. We, on the other hand, are complaining about the fact that they shouldn't be beheading babies."

"WE HAVE THE GREATEST MILITARY ON EARTH"

When reminded again of the allegations that Russia is providing intelligence to Iran, Trump said, "Look, they can give all the information they want, but we have overcome the people they sent this information to. We will overcome this too. We have the greatest military on earth. I built it in my first term, and unfortunately, I have to use it now. But when you look at what we did in Venezuela, when you look at what we did with the B2 bombers, that was a huge moment. Because Iran was going to have a nuclear weapon in two or three weeks, and that stopped it."

"WE HIT BOTH THEIR WEAPONS AND THEIR CAPACITY TO PRODUCE THEM"

Trump also responded to the question, "Are Iran's missiles and drones running out, or do you expect these counterattacks to continue?" Stating that they have significantly weakened Iran's defense capacity, Trump assessed, "Not only that. We also hit their production capacity very hard. They are at about 9 percent of what they launched in the first two days, and we think the reason for this is that they don't have that much left. At the same time, we destroyed about 70 percent of their rocket launchers. Launchers are a big deal. Very hard to find. Very expensive."

HEGSETH: "THEIR DEFENSE CAPABILITIES ARE DIMINISHING"

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth claimed that the US is in an increasingly advantageous position, saying, "Every day we have more leverage because we have more capabilities. We are hitting them harder, and their ability to defend themselves is diminishing. That's why we continue the offensive every day, providing the president with all the leverage he needs for the results that will emerge."

"IRAN'S APOLOGY IS A SIGN OF SURRENDER"

Taking the floor again after Hegseth, Trump stated that Iran has taken a big hit, saying, "At some point, I think there won't even be anyone left to say 'we surrender.' They are really in a very bad situation. And also, when you look at it, they apologized to the Middle Eastern states for targeting them. I was very surprised to see them do that. But write this down as a victory for us and for the Middle Eastern states that are truly our friends. I don't think they will target them anymore. They are apologizing, and we will see what happens. But this is a huge loss. This is a straight-up surrender. When they apologized and said they wouldn't hit them anymore, I called it a surrender. This is truly a surrender to those states and to us."

"I DO NOT WANT THE KURDS TO ENTER IRAN"

When asked about a possible intervention by Kurdish groups in Iran, Trump said, "We don't expect the Kurds to enter Iran; we have no such pursuit. As you know, we have very friendly relations with the Kurds, but we don't want to make the war more complicated than it is."

When asked, "Have you ruled this out?" Trump replied, "We don't want it. Yes, I have ruled it out. I don't want the Kurds to enter there. I don't want to see the Kurds get hurt or killed. We have had a good relationship. They are willing to enter, but I told them I don't want them to. The war is complicated enough without involving the Kurds." Trump avoided giving a definitive answer to the question of whether the map of Iran would remain the same after the war, saying, "Probably not."

"THE WORLD WILL BE SAFER AFTER THE WAR"

Regarding when the war will end, Trump said, "As for that, you know we will have a much safer world after the war is over. So, you see, this is a short undertaking. But when it ends, we will have a much safer world, and we will be rid of a bunch of sick and deranged people. That is, from Iran's leadership cadre. We got rid of the first leadership cadre, then we got rid of the second-level leadership. Now they are at the third or fourth leadership level, and they have leaders right now that nobody even knows who they are."

News Source: İHA