President Trump said he was “an hour away” from striking Iran on Monday when he called off the military strike at the request of Middle East leaders — and warned another “big hit” could still be coming.
“I was an hour away from making the decision to go today,” he told reporters at the White House.
“We’re all set to go,” he said. “It would have been happening right now. Yeah, it was all done, the boats, the ships were all loaded, they’re loaded to the brim, and we were all set to start.”
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Iran has wreaked havoc on the Strait of Hormuz, scaring off oil vessels from traversing it. U.S. Central Command Public Affairs
Trump announced Monday that he would not restart Operation Epic Fury to give the peace talks another chance after huddling with his national security team and speaking with Gulf leaders.
But he also noted that there was a limit to his patience, warning he was prepared to send the US military back in by the end of the week if Iran didn’t strike a deal.
“I’m saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week, a limited period of time, because we can’t let them have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
“I’m not going to let the world be blown up on my watch.”
“We may have to give them another big hit. We may have to give him another big hit. I’m not sure yet. You’ll know very soon,” Trump also said.
President Donald Trump revealed how close he was to restarting strikes on Iran. Evan Vucci/Pool Reuters via AP
Trump has shown increasing impatience with Iran’s refusal to strike a deal — as he keeps squeezing the country economically with its naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran unleashed its counteroffer, which includes reparation payments from the US and the right to a “peaceful” nuclear program – two items that are not acceptable to Trump.
The conflict is in its third month but Trump said an end is likely “very soon.”
“One way or the other, whether it’s military or an agreement, that’ll start opening up very soon,” he said.nnounced Monday that he would not restart Operation Epic Fury to give the peace talks another chance.