The Straits Times reported that President Donald Trump said the United States could resume strikes against Iran as Qatar and Saudi Arabia favored a peaceful settlement and diplomatic efforts continued.
The newspaper said Trump made the remarks in a Nov. 9 phone interview with Reuters. He said he was content with the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and that the United States was “ready to go anytime we want,” according to the report.
On Nov. 8, Trump told CNN that renewed strikes were “highly unlikely” if Iran signed a strong agreement, DW reported. The two accounts emphasized different conditions: one linked a lower likelihood of strikes to an agreement, while the other reported that Trump said the United States remained ready to act.
Qatar’s International Media Office said Nov. 7 that Qatari mediators were in contact with U.S. and Iranian officials as work toward a possible agreement continued. Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Nov. 4 that Saudi and Qatari officials backed diplomatic efforts on regional issues and security. Neither statement announced a U.S.-Iran agreement.
