Trump says Iran deal terms “not good enough” as the military campaign against Tehran continues to escalate, with the United States and its allies pressing forward with strikes that have already begun reshaping global energy markets and maritime security in the Persian Gulf.
Speaking in an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Donald Trump said he is not prepared to negotiate an end to the conflict with Iran because the conditions being discussed so far do not meet Washington’s expectations.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said during the interview. “Any agreement has to be very solid.”
His remarks signal that the administration is not yet ready to move toward a ceasefire, even as the conflict enters a critical phase and the international community grows increasingly concerned about its economic and geopolitical consequences.
The president did not reveal the exact terms he would require for negotiations to proceed, but he indicated that a central condition would involve Iran giving up any ambition to develop nuclear weapons.
Trump says Iran deal terms “not good enough” largely because Washington wants clear guarantees regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. According to the president, a commitment by Iran to abandon all nuclear weapons ambitions would be a fundamental part of any agreement.
The demand echoes longstanding U.S. concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities, which have been the subject of international negotiations and sanctions for years.
Trump did not elaborate on what form such a commitment would take or whether it would require international inspections, but he made clear that any ceasefire agreement would have to include strict conditions.
“We’re not going to settle for something weak,” he said. “If there’s a deal, it has to be something that really works.”
The remarks suggest that Washington is seeking a far-reaching agreement rather than a temporary truce to halt hostilities.
Conflict enters third week
Trump says Iran deal terms “not good enough” as the military campaign launched by the United States and Israel continues into its third week.
The offensive began on Feb. 28, when American and Israeli forces carried out coordinated strikes targeting Iranian military and strategic sites. The attacks marked one of the most significant escalations in tensions between Tehran and its adversaries in decades.
Since then, the conflict has expanded beyond airstrikes and missile attacks to affect shipping routes, energy markets and regional security arrangements.
Iran responded to the initial strikes with waves of missile and drone attacks aimed at Israeli territory and American military positions across the Middle East.
The exchanges have intensified fears that the confrontation could escalate into a broader regional war involving multiple countries.
The ongoing conflict is already sending shockwaves through global markets.
As the war continues, oil prices have surged amid fears that energy supplies from the Middle East could be disrupted. Traders and energy companies are closely monitoring developments around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.
The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. A large share of the world’s oil exports travels through the strait each day, making it a critical artery for global energy trade.
Any disruption to shipping in the strait could have immediate consequences for oil prices and global economic stability.
Trump acknowledged the growing economic pressure caused by the conflict, saying the United States is working with international partners to keep the waterway open.
Trump says Iran deal terms “not good enough” even as he calls on other countries to help safeguard maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
During the NBC interview, the president said several nations had already agreed to cooperate in efforts to maintain safe passage for commercial vessels.
“They’ve not only committed, but they think it’s a great idea,” he said, though he declined to identify which countries had agreed to participate.
Maintaining security in the strait has become an urgent priority for governments around the world, particularly for countries that rely heavily on imported oil.
Energy analysts warn that even a brief disruption in shipping through the waterway could send global oil prices sharply higher.
Trump suggested that countries benefiting from the oil shipments moving through the strait should play a larger role in protecting the route.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump used the social media platform Truth Social to call on countries that receive oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz to take responsibility for securing the passage.
In his post, the president argued that nations dependent on the route should actively participate in safeguarding it.
“Countries that receive oil through that passage should take care of it,” he wrote, adding that the United States would coordinate international efforts.
In a separate post, Trump suggested that multiple countries could deploy naval forces to the region.
He wrote that several governments would be sending warships to ensure the strait remains open for commercial shipping.
However, the president did not provide details about which countries might contribute vessels or how such a coalition would operate.
One of the key questions facing policymakers is whether the United States might begin escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Naval escort operations have been used in the past during periods of heightened tension in the Gulf. They involve warships accompanying commercial vessels to protect them from potential attacks or interference.
When asked by NBC News whether the United States Navy would begin escorting ships through the strait, Trump declined to provide a clear answer.
“I don’t want to tell you anything about that,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that such a step remains a possibility.
“It’s possible,” he added.
Strategic stakes for the region
The growing confrontation between the United States and Iran has placed enormous pressure on governments throughout the Middle East.
Regional powers are watching closely as the conflict unfolds, aware that further escalation could destabilize energy infrastructure and shipping routes across the Gulf.
Several Gulf states host major oil export terminals and international shipping hubs that could become vulnerable if the conflict expands.
The presence of additional naval forces in the region could help deter attacks on commercial vessels, but it could also increase the risk of direct confrontations at sea.
Trump says Iran deal terms “not good enough” at a time when diplomatic channels appear increasingly strained.
Although Iran has indicated interest in negotiating an end to the conflict, Washington has not yet signaled readiness to begin formal talks.
The absence of negotiations leaves the situation uncertain as military operations continue.
Diplomats and analysts warn that prolonged fighting could deepen the economic disruption already being felt across global markets.
Energy prices, shipping insurance costs and financial market volatility have all increased since the conflict began.
For governments and investors alike, the central question is whether diplomacy will eventually prevail.
As the war enters its third week, the possibility of a negotiated settlement remains unclear.
Trump says Iran deal terms “not good enough,” indicating that Washington is willing to continue military pressure until its demands are met.
At the same time, the rising economic costs of the conflict are prompting calls for diplomatic engagement.
Whether the two sides can find a path toward negotiations may depend on developments in the coming weeks, particularly if the conflict continues to affect global energy markets and shipping routes.
For now, the confrontation between Washington and Tehran shows few signs of easing, leaving the international community watching closely for the next move in a conflict that has already begun to reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
