President Donald Trump hosted his second cabinet meeting of the year, the first since strikes on Iran, highlighting ongoing negotiations with the Islamic Republic.
Trump kicked off the Thursday cabinet meeting by providing an update on the conflict with Iran, underscoring that the Islamic regime is eager to make a deal to end the 26-day conflict.
“They are begging to work out a deal. I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that. I don’t know if we’re willing to do that. They should’ve done that four weeks ago,” said the president. “They now have the chance, that is Iran, to permanently abandon their nuclear ambitions, and to chart a new path forward…if they don’t, we’re their worst nightmare. In the meantime, we’ll just keep blowing them away.”
Trump called out NATO for not offering to help sooner, calling the conflict “a test for NATO,” adding that “we will remember … never forget.”
“We’re very disappointed with NATO. NATO has done absolutely nothing,” said Trump.
Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that the U.S. is working with Pakistan as an intermediary to deliver the proposed 15-point peace plan.
Witkoff described the talks with the Islamic regime as “sensitive diplomatic discussion.” He added that “we will see where things lead,” hoping to avoid further death and destruction.
“The Iranians said they have the ‘inalienable right to enrich.’ Then we heard they possessed enough 60% enriched material, 460 kilograms to make 11 atomic bombs. Also, they would not give up diplomatically what we could not win militarily,” Witkoff added.
Witkoff addressed the peace talks that led up to the strikes, arguing he and Jared Kushner “exhausted all efforts,” believing Iran was trying to buy time. He warned Iran not to “miscalculate again.”
Trump also announced Iranian officials “gifted” the U.S. 10 boats of oil as a way to reassure U.S. officials that they are negotiating with the right people, adding they sailed under the Pakistani flag.
Despite ongoing peace talks, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the “Department of War will continue to negotiate with bombs.”
The president added there are still targets remaining in Iran that he would like to hit, but wouldn’t indicate which ones.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims Iran is at its weakest point, but underscored that the country remains a threat. He added that every one of the president’s objectives in Iran is being “effectuated.”
The secretary reiterated Iran’s threat to the world, pointing to countries unhappy with the operation.
“I think countries around the world, even those that are out there complaining about this a little bit, should be grateful that the United States has a president that’s willing to confront a threat like this and not allow it to continue to persist,” said Rubio.
In an effort to address rising oil prices, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. is working to ensure oil shipments get through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are starting to see more and more movement in and out of the Gulf today,” Bessent added.
