By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Wednesday has predicted that the war with Iran could end “fairly soon”, but said he was in no hurry for Tehran to return to negotiations and had set no deadline for talks.
Qatar’s prime minister is heading to Tehran for talks focused on de-escalation, dialogue and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump issued the divergent assessments in separate interviews as Qatar prepared to open a new diplomatic push in Tehran.
He also said he believed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was alive but had suffered serious injuries.
Trump presented no evidence to substantiate his account of Khamenei’s condition.
“I don’t think he’s dead. He was very seriously wounded,” Trump told conservative US broadcaster Glenn Beck.
“The left side of his body, the arm, the leg, the whole thing, he was very seriously wounded. But I don’t think he’s dead,” he said.
Khamenei has not made a public appearance since becoming Iran’s supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed when the US-Israeli campaign began on February 28.
Iranian officials have maintained that the younger Khamenei is alive. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian previously said he was “completely healthy”.
Tehran has released undated or archival footage amid speculation about the supreme leader’s health and whereabouts. The material has not provided independent confirmation of his present condition.
Trump said Iranian officials continued to refer to consulting Khamenei before making decisions.
“If he is dead, they’re putting on a pretty good show because they talk about, you know, going back to talk to him all the time…to get a final blessing on things,” he said.
Trump in a separate interview with Al Jazeera, said he had no deadline for Iran to return to negotiations.
“I have no time schedule, none. I’m not in a hurry. I have no time schedule at all,” he said.
Trump claimed the US was “winning very big” and argued that military and economic pressure had weakened Iran.
He had suggested that the conflict would last between four and six weeks. Friday will mark six months since the war began on February 28.
Trump said in his interview with Beck that US action against Iran would be “ending fairly soon”. He predicted that the campaign would produce a “big victory”.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, is due in Tehran on Thursday for meetings with Iranian officials.
They will focus on reducing tensions and creating conditions for dialogue.
According to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and a return to conditions that existed before February 28 are also expected to feature in the talks.
Qatar has maintained that negotiations offer the best route towards resolving the conflict and restoring regional stability.
Trump claimed that US forces had destroyed 22 boats overnight in operations connected to the naval blockade.
“We took out 22 boats last night,” he said, while praising the US Navy and military. He offered no operational details supporting the figure.
Trump also claimed that mines had been cleared and that the Strait of Hormuz was functioning, with large quantities of oil moving through the waterway.
Iran has maintained that the strait remains closed apart from temporary transit arrangements.
US administration has intensified economic pressure alongside its military operations.
Washington launched “Operation Economic Outcast” this week to target Iran’s international financial connections and revenue sources.
Trump said preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remained the primary objective of the campaign.
“We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
