Washington, May 2: US President Donald Trump has said the United States faces a critical choice in its approach toward Iran—either pursue a negotiated settlement or escalate militarily—as tensions continue to rise in West Asia.
Speaking to reporters following a briefing by CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, Donald Trump said, “There are options. Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever? Or do we want to try and make a deal. That’s the options.” He added that, on a human basis, he would prefer not to resort to military action but said both possibilities remain on the table.
The US President also responded to questions regarding Pakistan’s decision to open land transit routes for trade with Iran. He expressed awareness of the development and praised Pakistan’s leadership, saying, “I have great respect for Pakistan and for the Field Marshal and for the Prime Minister.”
According to reports cited from Al Jazeera, Pakistan has opened six overland transit routes for goods destined for Iran, establishing a formal road corridor through its territory. The move reportedly comes amid thousands of shipping containers stranded at Karachi port due to ongoing US restrictions on Iranian ports and maritime access. The Ministry of Commerce in Pakistan has also issued a new order allowing third-country goods to be transported by road into Iran.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, saying he was not satisfied with it and remained uncertain about reaching a final agreement.
“They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” he said, adding that internal divisions within Iran’s leadership were affecting the negotiation process. He described the Iranian leadership as “disjointed,” suggesting that multiple factions were complicating decision-making.
His remarks come amid continued diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Tehran over proposals aimed at ending the ongoing West Asia conflict, with both sides yet to reach a final consensus on key issues.
