Trump Plans Talks with Iran amid Threat of Attack

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump said he plans to hold negotiations with Iran.

"I have been talking to Iran in recent days, and I plan to continue," Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Center, as reported by Anadolu, Friday, January 30.

Trump reiterated that there are currently many very large and very powerful ships sailing towards Iran.

"It would be very good if we didn't have to use it," he said.

When asked what message he had conveyed to Iran, Trump said he had conveyed two things. First, Iran must not have nuclear weapons. Second, Iran must stop killing demonstrators.

Earlier on the same day, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US was ready to use all options to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while stressing that Washington was still open to a diplomatic deal.

Hegseth said that when President Trump asserted that Iran would not have nuclear weapons, the statement was made in earnest.

He cited the delivery of B-2 bombers to various parts of the world without being detected, as well as the tough policy on narcotics trafficking, as was the case with al-Qaeda in the Western region, which, according to him, was carried out according to presidential orders. He also mentioned the role of the military in securing the joint border with the Department of Homeland Security as proof of the implementation of presidential directives.

According to Hegseth, a similar approach is being applied to Iran today, namely ensuring that all options are available so that Tehran is willing to reach an agreement and not pursue nuclear capabilities. The statement was made by Hegseth in a cabinet meeting with Trump.

Hegseth stressed that the Pentagon was ready to carry out any orders issued by Trump, indicating that military options remained open if the diplomatic path failed.

"We will be ready to provide whatever the president expects from the Department of War, as we did this month," he said, referring to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the ASpada on January 3.