Trump says US has 'time on its side' as Iran war drags on, rules out hurry for peace deal

Washington, Oct 31 (UNI) US President Donald Trump said Washington is in no hurry to end its war with Iran, describing the conflict as "not a typical war" and claiming the United States has time on its side despite months of hostilities and repeated diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting settlement.

Trump also claimed that Tehran remained interested in negotiations but is under mounting financial difficulties, including an inability to pay military personnel and law enforcement officers. "There are talks. They want to talk. They keep talking," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "But look, they're not paying their soldiers, they're not paying their police. They're in a lot of trouble. And we have time, frankly. It's a war, but it's not a typical war, we've been there for seven months," he added.

The US president also sought to downplay the financial cost of the military campaign, claiming Washington was spending relatively little on the conflict. "We're spending very little money, relatively speaking," Trump said, adding that the United States has recovered its expenditure several times over through developments involving Venezuela.

Trump's remarks come despite his repeated warnings that Washington could resume or intensify military operations against Iran. He previously floated the possibility of launching "another little Epic Fury" after the polls, referring to the initial US military operation against Tehran, while also expressing hope for a "big and good" agreement. But the fact of the matter is Washington and Tehran continue to disagree over key issues, including Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and the US blockade of Iranian ports.

Diplomatic engagement gained momentum on Friday as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of a G20 ministerial gathering in the United States. The discussions covered negotiations between Washington and Tehran, broader regional developments and bilateral relations. The meeting followed a telephone conversation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Trump earlier in the week, during which Ankara highlighted concerns over maritime security and expressed support for diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions.

The hostilities began on February 28 following joint US and Israeli strikes against Iranian military installations, missile facilities and nuclear infrastructure. The initial bombardment killed Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory missile attacks against Israel and US assets across the region. Iran subsequently restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over international oil supplies and global energy security.

UNI AAB