Trump: Israel to end strikes on Iran when US is ready

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Israel will conclude its military operation against Iran when the United States is ready to take a similar step, stressing that the two countries “want roughly the same thing.”

Speaking to journalists on the South Lawn of the White House before departing for Florida, Trump was asked whether Israel would end its military operation once the U.S. is prepared to do so, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

“I think so,” he replied.

In separate comments on March 20, Trump said there are “no leaders left in Iran to talk to about the war,” as U.S. and Israeli strikes continue to target Iranian officials.

In an interview with MS NOW, Trump said it would take Iran a decade to recover from the military offensive.

“I think I could leave right now and it would take them 10 years to rebuild. But I don’t think that’s an acceptable situation,” he said. “If we stay longer, they’ll never rebuild.”

Trump added that while the United States could “possibly” influence who controls the Iranian government, toppling Iran’s hard-line theocratic rulers is not his main objective.

“The major thing is that they cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he told Stephanie Ruhle, host of “The 11th Hour.”

By Sabina Mammadli