Trump Says Iran Not Ready For US Deal Amid Tensions

US Claims Strait Of Hormuz Control

US sanctions on Iran did not suggest limited US military choices, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

"No, not at all. It just means that we're seeing what happens. They have no money, they have no navy, they have no air force, they are not paying their soldiers, they're not paying their police, they have 350% inflation," Trump said.

"We're just going to sort of see what happens, and we have total control, as you know, of the border; we have total control -- if you look at the blockade, we have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz," he added.

Iran Pushes Regional Security And Cooperation 

Iran's speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and the country's chief negotiator said "numerous messages" had been received from neighbors on new security structures and more cooperation.

“The United States put the security of every single one of its allies at such risk through bullying and pure disregard for their interests for the sake of Israel that they briefly saw their entire existence on the line,” Ghalibaf said.

“A homegrown, independent order is what will actually deliver peace and security,” he added. Ghalibaf's remarks came amid an intensifying standoff between Washington and Tehran. 

US Warns Iran’s Trade Partners

In recent days Trump unveiled what he described as the toughest ever sanctioned economic operation targeting Iran and promised crippling economic fallout for countries dealing in trade and finance with Tehran. Trump exhorted US allies to collaborate on isolating Iran, describing the sanctions drive as “economic D-Day,” to deprive Tehran the resources to finance operations overseas. He restated warnings Iran would never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

He said, “ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences. Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — it all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are. This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat.”

The move was revealed as tensions between the US and Iran escalated over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz oil passage. Washington has enforced its own tightening sanctions and a naval blockade of the strait, Trump said, and insisted the passage had remained open and US action had been very successful.