President Donald Trump has stated that he will not negotiate with Iran at this time and intends to continue military pressure. He claimed that the military capabilities of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have decreased by approximately 90% and emphasized plans to significantly expand U.S. weapon production capabilities.
In an interview with Fox News on July 15, Trump said, "I do not want to negotiate right now" regarding the possibility of talks with Iran. He also asserted that an agreement had been possible until recently, but claimed Iran has not upheld its commitments.
However, he did not completely close off communication between the two nations. Trump noted, "The U.S. is still in contact with Iran," adding, "They want an agreement very much." While he is not pursuing formal negotiations at the moment, he has left the door open for dialogue.
In the meantime, military pressure is being intensified. The U.S. has resumed maritime blockades of Iranian ports and has conducted airstrikes on Iranian military facilities. Trump warned that if Iran does not engage in negotiations, the U.S. could target power plants and bridges.
He claimed that Iran's military strength has been significantly weakened, stating in a Fox Business interview, "The IRGC's military capabilities have decreased by about 90%," and that key assets such as drones, missiles, and launchers have suffered considerable damage.
However, the figures provided by Trump have not been independently verified. While Iran has sustained significant damage from U.S. airstrikes, it is still assessed to have the capability to use missiles and drones to attack U.S. military facilities and vessels in the Gulf region.
Trump also announced plans to greatly increase U.S. weapon production capabilities. Major defense contractors are expanding production facilities for systems like the Patriot and Tomahawk missiles, and there are plans to shorten the time it takes to receive weapon orders. This is aimed at ensuring a sufficient stockpile of weapons in case of a prolonged conflict with Iran.
In summary, Trump's statements suggest that the U.S. has not abandoned negotiations with Iran. Rather than immediately engaging in talks, the strategy appears to be to apply pressure through airstrikes and maritime blockades before resuming negotiations under more favorable conditions.
The key question is whether this pressure can bring Iran back to the negotiating table. If Iran continues to confront the U.S. using its capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz and its missile and drone forces, the potential for prolonged conflict and instability in maritime transport between the two nations remains high.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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