US President Donald Trump, when asked about his plans regarding the resumption of military action in Iran on Thursday, said that the country was largely destroyed and that it would take more than two decades to rebuild.
"I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office following a meeting with his national security advisers, "but maybe I'll have to. You'll know soon enough."
In October, the New York Times reported that the American and Israeli militaries have drawn up detailed plans for renewed strikes on Iran following the US midterm elections on November 3, citing officials familiar with the matter.
Trump raises doubts over renewed attacks on Iran
On Monday, one day before the midterm elections, Trump raised doubts about whether he would follow through on those plans. Asked by reporters if he was considering striking Iran after the midterms, Trump replied, "No."
“We are prepared and ready to act. At least if we need to finish the job with Iran, we are definitely ready for that,” the president said of US military readiness.
On Tuesday, Trump said that the United States has no immediate plan to renew strikes against Iran during an interview with the Financial Times on Tuesday.
The statement followed US strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island after the regime claimed to have downed an American drone, a US official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
On ongoing indirect negotiations with Tehran, Trump said on Tuesday, “We seem to be getting everything we want.”
Trump says US ready for further Iran strikes, admits war hurt GOP in midterms
On Wednesday night, Trump admitted that the war in Iran had hurt the Republican Party in the congressional midterm elections, but made clear that, in hindsight, he would still have made the decision to go to war.
“I think that’s largely true, because the war caused a certain short-term rise in fuel prices,” he said, when asked whether the war had hurt the Republicans. “But at the same time, if I had to make the decision again, I would have to do it again, because in the long run it’s the only solution. Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.”
Addressing reports that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be replaced following the election defeat, Trump said he is not considering replacing him. “He’s doing an extraordinary job,” he said.
Trump also responded to remarks by US Vice President JD Vance, who blamed the war for the Republicans’ defeat. “Vance is largely right, and at the same time, if I’m required to fight Iran again, I’ll do it to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon,” he said.
“Yes. I mean, well, there was no choice,” Trump replied when asked whether this was a war he chose to wage. “I thought oil prices would go up much more, and I made the decision based on that assumption.”
“Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, otherwise everything you see here might one day no longer exist,” he said.
Reuters, Goldie Katz, Aaron Glick, and Asher Smith contributed to this report.