US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has no deadline for the conflict with Iran and is prepared to allow the war to continue for as long as necessary.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Trump said he was “not in a hurry" to resume negotiations with Tehran and stressed: “I have no time schedule, none." He said both economic pressure and military action against Iran had proven “both effective."
Trump also described Iran's economic situation as deteriorating, saying the country was experiencing “massive inflation" and that its economy was “falling apart." He further accused the Iranian government of “treating their people very badly, they are killing many, many protesters."
In a separate interview Wednesday on The Glenn Beck Program, Trump addressed reports concerning Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Trump said he did not believe Khamenei had been killed, but said he had suffered serious injuries.
“I don't think he's dead. He was very seriously wounded," Trump said. “The left side of his body, the arm, the leg, the whole thing, he was very seriously wounded. But I don't think he's dead."
Trump said Iranian officials have continued behaving as though Khamenei is alive and consulting with him on major decisions.
“And if he is, they're putting on a pretty good show because they talk about, you know, going back to talk to him all the time, you know, to get a final blessing on things," the President said.
The President also questioned whether Iran's leadership could be trusted to honor agreements reached with Washington.
“You make a deal with them. It's like not the most honorable group. I will tell you that," he said.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran over a permanent agreement remain stalled. While US strikes against the Islamic Republic continued until recently, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday announced “Operation Economic Outcast," a major economic campaign intended to isolate Iran and cut off revenue streams supporting the Iranian regime.
Although military strikes have currently paused, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Monday that Washington has not eliminated the possibility of further military action against Iran.
“By no means are we foreclosing using kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran," Hegseth told reporters.
Hegseth also said Iran is unable to withstand the economic pressure being imposed by the United States.