U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington would prefer to deal with Iran without resorting to military action, but stressed that force remains an option if diplomacy fails. Trump described the U.S. military as unmatched and said he hoped he would not have to use it, while acknowledging that “sometimes you have to.”
Trump also repeated his demand that Iran commit to never pursuing nuclear weapons, saying Tehran has not offered the assurances he wants. Reuters reported that further discussions were expected later on Friday, as Oman continues to play a mediating role.
Detail
• Trump said he would like to resolve the situation “without the military,” but added that “sometimes you have to.”
• He described the U.S. military as the strongest in the world and said he hopes not to use it.
• He reiterated the U.S. position that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons and said Tehran is not providing the commitment he wants.
• Reuters said more discussions were expected later on Friday, with Oman involved as a mediator.
What next?
Watch for any readout from the next round of talks or mediator statements, and for whether the White House frames a clearer timeline for diplomacy versus escalation.
