Trump rules out immediate deal with Iran as Israel escalates strikes

United States President Donald Trump has said Washington is not yet ready to pursue a deal to end the ongoing war with Iran, as its ally Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes and tensions across the region continued to rise.

Speaking in an interview with NBC News, Trump said Tehran appeared interested in negotiations but insisted that the United States would continue military pressure until better terms were secured.

“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said.

He warned that US forces could intensify attacks on Iranian coastal positions near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz in order to reopen the route for global oil shipments.

More than two weeks into the conflict between US-Israeli forces and the Islamic Republic, neither side has softened its rhetoric despite rising casualties and global economic concerns triggered by soaring oil prices following the effective closure of the vital shipping lane.

Trump also suggested that the US could again target Iran’s major oil export hub on Kharg Island.

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, earlier vowed in a written statement to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. Trump dismissed the threat and questioned whether the Iranian leader was even in control.

“I don’t know if he’s even alive. So far, nobody has been able to show him,” he said.

Iranian officials, however, insisted on Saturday that “there is no problem with the new supreme leader,” despite his absence from public appearances.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it carried out a fresh wave of strikes against targets in western Iran after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a criminal and vowed to hunt him down.

Tehran slowly returns to normal

Despite the escalating rhetoric, AFP reports that residents of Tehran were seen resuming parts of daily life.

Traffic increased across the city and some cafés and restaurants reopened as the country prepared for Nowruz celebrations.

More than a third of stalls at the popular Tajrish Bazaar had reopened, while some residents queued at ATMs after online services at Bank Melli were disrupted in recent days.

The conflict began on February 28 when US-Israeli strikes reportedly killed Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Regional tensions rise

Washington has also urged American citizens to leave Iraq following attacks by pro-Iranian militias on the US embassy and military bases hosting Western forces.

Trump has suggested forming an international naval coalition to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, urging countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to contribute ships.

The UK defence ministry said discussions with allies were ongoing, while officials in South Korea said they were closely monitoring Trump’s remarks.

Reports of renewed missile and drone attacks were also recorded across the region, with air defence systems intercepting projectiles over Manama and Dubai.

Rising humanitarian toll

Iran’s health ministry says more than 1,200 people have been killed in US and Israeli strikes, though the figures could not be independently verified.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as many as 3.2 million people have been displaced within Iran since the start of the conflict.

The Pentagon said more than 15,000 targets in Iran had been struck so far by US and Israeli forces.

US media reports also indicated that the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and about 2,500 Marines had been deployed to the region as tensions continue to escalate.