‘I’m their banker’: Trump says US controls Iran’s frozen assets as he threatens economic or military action
US President Donald Trump said Washington could either keep up economic pressure on Iran and allow its economy to deteriorate further or launch a major military strike, as he accused Tehran of being “devious negotiators”.In an interview with Real America’s Voice released late Monday, Trump said he was “sort of negotiating” with Iran but described the country as a difficult negotiating partner.Trump said Washington could continue with its current approach and allow Iran’s economy to deteriorate further.“Do what I’m doing now: just bop along and look how bad they’re doing,” he said, pointing to Iran’s economic difficulties.He said Iran was struggling to access borrowing and that the US had control over frozen Iranian assets. “I’m their banker,” Trump said.Trump claimed Iran’s economy was in severe distress, saying it was facing 300% inflation, a currency with “almost no value” and difficulties paying its soldiers. He also claimed Iranian troops were leaving, arguing that the situation was “not sustainable”. These were Trump’s assertions in the interview.He outlined three possible approaches to the conflict: maintaining the current pressure and allowing Iran to fail economically, launching a severe military attack by hitting them “really, really hard”, or relying primarily on economic pressure. Trump said economic pressure was already part of the US approach.Trump also accused Iranian officials of being “very devious negotiators”, claiming they would agree to something and then tell the media they had not done so.Asked how the conflict could ultimately end, Trump said his main objective was to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.“I’m in this thing for one primary reason: that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, claiming that US military action had already prevented Tehran from acquiring one.Trump’s comments came as the conflict, which began in late February, continued to produce mixed signals over the prospects of a diplomatic settlement. Pakistan said on Tuesday that the US and Iran were close to “some sort” of agreement, while Qatar said talks on arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz had reached an advanced stage.Trump has repeatedly alternated between threatening a major escalation of the conflict and suggesting that a peace deal could be close.The president also rejected concerns over US ammunition supplies, saying the country was producing munitions at a rapid pace.“We’re fine with munitions,” Trump said, adding that the US was “building them like crazy”.Trump blamed former President Joe Biden for the lower stockpile, claiming Biden had provided $300 billion worth of weapons to Ukraine.
