U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to the media as he departs aboard Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House February 27, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik | Getty Images
President Donald Trump Friday, said that “I would love not to use” the American military tackle Iran“but sometimes you have to do it.”
But Trump also said, “We have not made a final decision” on whether to attack Iran.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “We’re talking later today. We’ll have additional discussions today.”
Trump’s comment to reporters outside the White House came after expressing frustration over Iran’s refusal to comply with US demands to curb its nuclear program.
Read more about CNBC’s politics coverage“We’re not happy with the way they’re negotiating,” Trump said. “They can’t have nuclear weapons.”
“I’m not happy that they’re not willing to give us what we need,” Trump said, referring to that condition.
Asked by a reporter whether there could be a long-running conflict in the Middle East if the United States attacks Iran, Trump replied: “I guess you could say there’s always a risk.”
“It would be wonderful if they actually negotiated, in good conscience and in good faith,” he said. “They can’t do it yet.”
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating negotiations between the United States and Iran, met in Washington, DC, with Vice President. J.D. Vance and other American officials in an effort to avoid war.
A statement issued by the government of Oman after the meeting put a positive spin on these negotiations, which was not reflected in Trump’s direct comments.
“The meeting reviewed indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman, as well as diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a fair and lasting agreement on the nuclear file and ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear energy program,” the Oman government said.
“I am grateful for their commitment and look forward to further decisive progress in the coming days,” al-Busaidi said in a message on X. “Peace is within our reach.”
During an interview with MS Now, when asked if there was a chance that the United States would attack Iran overnight, al-Busaidi responded, “I can’t answer that question, because I don’t know.”
“I think President Trump is sincerely passionate about a deal,” al-Busaidi said. “He wants to reach an agreement. He wants a diplomatic solution, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
But Trump, in a speech Friday afternoon in Corpus Christi, Texas, said of Iran: “We have a very big decision.”
“We have a country that for 47 years has been blowing people’s legs and arms off,” Trump said. They destroyed ships, killed people, a lot of people, not just Americans, a lot of people. »
Trump said he wanted to “make a meaningful deal.”
“I’d rather do it peacefully,” Trump said, while calling the Iranian government “very difficult people, dangerous people, very difficult people.”
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Friday allowed non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their family members to leave Israel “due to security risks.”
Also on Friday, the massive US aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, arrived off the coast of Israel.
Also Friday, the State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be visit Israel Monday and Tuesday to discuss Iran and other regional issues.
