US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could resume military attacks on Iran if Tehran fails to conclude a final nuclear agreement with Washington, while also floating the idea of the US becoming "the guardian of the Middle East" in exchange for 20% of the region's revenues.
In an interview with The New York Times on Sunday, Trump said the preliminary agreement reached with Iran would ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains "permanently toll-free" and claimed his actions had prevented a nuclear-armed Iran from threatening Israel's existence.
Also read: Trump leaves the hard part for later in long-awaited Iran deal
The remarks came as Trump's aides prepare for a new round of negotiations with Iran, expected to begin later this week in Switzerland, according to the Times .
Netanyahu criticism and Strait claims
During a 28-minute phone interview initiated from the White House, Trump defended his decision to launch military strikes on Iran earlier this year and impose a naval blockade after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that the actions had reshaped the region in America's favour.
Trump also took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of nearly undermining the agreement.
"He's a very difficult guy," Trump said. "And to be honest with you, he should be very thankful to us for doing this. Because if Iran had a nuclear weapon, Israel wouldn't be around for two hours."
The president further asserted that the agreement would guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz remains "permanently toll-free," though the memorandum of understanding reportedly suspends tolls for only 60 days and provides for further regional discussions.
Trump also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin for not interfering during the blockade.
"He was a total gentleman," Trump said of Xi. "He didn't send a tanker, along with 20 destroyers on each side of it, to try and break up the blockade."
Also read: US and Iran reach deal to end war, Trump says Strait of Hormuz to open on Friday
Nuclear limits still under negotiation
Trump repeatedly compared the emerging agreement with the 2015 nuclear accord negotiated under former President Barack Obama, insisting that the new deal would ensure Iran "cannot develop or purchase a nuclear weapon."
However, several key issues remain unresolved. According to the Times, Iranian officials have continued to insist on retaining the right to enrich uranium, while discussions are ongoing over whether Tehran would suspend enrichment activities for 15 to 20 years.
"They can never go beyond a certain amount," Trump said, adding that Iran would be allowed to enrich uranium only for "nonmilitary purposes. Forever."
Trump said sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets would be contingent on Iran fulfilling its commitments. He also claimed the US would eventually work with Tehran to remove and dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium and would secure near-instant access for inspectors to monitor compliance.
"We negotiated from strength," Trump said while defending the agreement against comparisons with the Obama-era deal. "He was basically paying them off."
‘They did not want the third attack’
Trump credited military pressure for bringing Iran to the negotiating table, arguing that the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had fundamentally altered Tehran's calculations.
"They did not want the third attack," he said. "They do care about living."
"The bottom line is that those attacks that we made had a huge impact on having this deal made, a huge impact."
The president also suggested the United States could assume what he described as "strong policing powers" to enforce any future agreement and reiterated that Washington could take further action if negotiations collapse.
His comments came ahead of the Group of Seven summit in France, where leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain welcomed the preliminary agreement.
"This is a moment of opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilize the global economy," the four European leaders said in a joint statement. "It is now vital that the detailed negotiations are concluded and this agreement is implemented rapidly and comprehensively. We are ready to support that effort."
While Trump welcomed European support, he also suggested that some allies had arrived late to the process.
