Trump Calls Iran's Leaders 'More Rational', Casts Doubt On Deal After Latest Flare-Up
Trump Calls Iran's Leaders 'More Rational', Casts Doubt On Deal After Latest Flare-Up Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 23:18 IST His remarks came
Trump Calls Iran's Leaders 'More Rational', Casts Doubt On Deal After Latest Flare-Up Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 23:18 IST His remarks came after renewed fighting broke out following US strikes on several sites in Iran overnight. News18 US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran’s leaders were “more rational" than before but criticised their recent actions, saying they were “not doing service to the people", as fighting between Washington and Tehran flared again. Speaking to reporters at the end of a two-day NATO summit in Ankara, Trump was asked why his view of Iran’s leadership had changed after previously calling them “very rational", “strong" and “smart", but more recently describing them as “scum" and “sick people". “I think they are more rational, but based on their actions over the last week or two, they’re not doing service to the people," Trump said..@POTUS on what changed with Iran: “I think more than anything else is I got to know them — and I’m not sure I want to make a deal with them.
We can play games, but I’m not sure I want to make a deal. Let’s just finish the job." pic.twitter.com/ld7uxNV9m8— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2026 ‘Not Sure About Iran Deal’ He added that he was not sure whether he wanted to continue pursuing a deal with Iran aimed at ending the war. “I’m not sure I want to make a deal with them. We can play games, but I’m not sure I want to make a deal. Let’s just finish the job," he said. Trump also said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was his main priority, adding that oil prices had fallen sharply and that the latest escalation would end quickly. “The prices of oil are dropping like a rock. Now they’ll be up a little bit, and this will end very quickly," the American leader said.
He said he wanted to ensure that “lunatics" did not gain control of nuclear weapons, and claimed Iran would have developed such weapons without US action. “If we wouldn’t have had that, they would have had a nuclear weapon and they would have wiped out Israel. If I weren’t the President, Israel wouldn’t exist," he added. His remarks came after renewed fighting broke out following US strikes on several sites in Iran overnight. Washington said the operation was carried out in response to fresh attacks on commercial shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides said they struck dozens of targets in the latest escalation, adding further strain to an interim agreement aimed at ending the end. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.
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