US President Donald Trump said that the United States is "locked and loaded" to increase its strikes on Iran, though he has not yet made a final decision, during a press conference at the White House on Friday.
“We’re locked and loaded and ready to go, but we’re talking to them," said Trump in response to a reporter's question on the subject. "We’ll see what comes of it.”
“I think they are getting more serious as days go by for maybe obvious reasons," he added. "But we are talking to them right now. We’ll see.”
President Trump held a cabinet meeting on the subject later on Friday, according to a New York Times report citing four sources with knowledge of the meeting.
Trump noted that the US had several "exit strategies" for its war with Iran, including a "military exit," which would involve a continuation of its strikes on the Islamic regime, with the potential of a "heavier dose."
He added that there was a "smarter strategy," in which Iran would make a deal. "They want to make a deal," said Trump. "I just don't think they're ready yet."
They want to be the tough guys," Trump continued. "As we speak, we are talking to them."
Trump: Iran caused Saudi hesitation to join Abraham Accords
When asked if targeting Iranian power plants would constitute a war crime, the US president declined to answer.
Trump initially began discussing Iran following a reporter's question on the US-Saudi nuclear deal, which, according to Trump, now hinges on Saudi Arabia joining thr Abraham Accords.
The president said that Iran was a primary reason for Saudi hesitancy to join the Accords, but things would be different now that the "problem" of the regime was "disappearing day by day."
He described Iran as "the bully of the Middle East," saying that they "are not going to be that much of a bully anymore."
Trump added that Iran has "no navy, no air force, no anti-aircraft, no radar, no nothing."
President Trump emphasized the significance of the "iron wall" created by the US blockade against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
He noted the situation as "not very complex," hinging simply on the US demand that Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon."
Trump 'not in a hurry' on Iran
"If they have even the thought of a nuclear weapon, we would just continue to go, but at much higher levels," Trump said, noting that he is "not in a hurry."
"We've taken out their first level of leadership," noted Trump. "We've taken out their second level of leadership. We've taken out their third level, and we're negotiating with the rest."
Trump concluded by stressing that Israel "would not be around anymore" if he had not been reelected, saying the Jewish state would have been "hit by a nuclear weapon."
"If I wasn't here, there would be no Israel," he concluded. "And there would probably be no Middle East."