Trump: Won't Accept Iran Ceasefire Yet — Confirms Kharg Island Strikes, Seeks Allies To Secure Strait Of Hormuz

President Donald Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he is not prepared to accept a ceasefire with Iran now because, he said, 'the terms aren’t good enough yet,' even though he asserted Tehran is willing to negotiate. He declined to detail what acceptable terms would include, but indicated a full Iranian renunciation of nuclear ambitions would be part of any agreement.

Key Developments

In a wide-ranging, nearly 30-minute phone interview, Trump said he is coordinating with other countries to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid rising global oil prices and downplayed U.S. public concern about higher gasoline costs since joint U.S.-Israeli operations began two weeks ago.

The president confirmed U.S. strikes on Kharg Island, a strategic Iranian oil terminal, and repeated his claim that American forces had largely degraded Iran's missiles, drones, and production facilities.

'Iran wants to make a deal, and I don't want to make it because the terms aren't good enough yet,' Trump said. 'We’ve knocked out most of their missiles. We’ve knocked out most of their drones... Within two days, it’ll be totally decimated.'

U.S. Central Command said it carried out 'precision strikes' on 90 military targets while attempting to preserve oil infrastructure. Trump later told NBC the island was 'totally demolished' and added controversially that it 'may be hit a few more times just for fun.'

Strait Of Hormuz And International Support

Trump said he has asked 'numerous countries that are affected by the thuggery of Iran' to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments. He declined to identify specific partners during the call but posted on Truth Social naming several nations he hoped would contribute ships.

Iran has warned it could close the strait and has suggested it would welcome higher oil prices in response to the conflict. The president said the U.S. will conduct sweeping operations in the waterway and expects to be joined by other nations.

Casualties, Regional Strikes, And Leadership Questions

Since the conflict began, 13 active U.S. service members have died, including six crew members killed when a U.S. refueling plane crashed in Iraq. Iran has fired drones into multiple Gulf states, and Iraqi officials reported an Iranian strike hit a helipad inside a U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad.

Trump also questioned whether Iran’s newly named supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei — the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — is 'even alive,' noting the leader issued a written statement rather than appearing on camera. Trump suggested, without providing evidence, that reports of the leader being wounded or in hiding could be true; U.S. allies and commentators have also offered unverified assessments.

Politics, Sanctions, And Diplomacy

Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as difficult to negotiate with and defended his decision to temporarily ease some sanctions on Russian oil to stabilize global fuel markets, saying the measures would be reinstated 'as soon as the crisis is over.'

On domestic politics, Trump dismissed concerns that rising gas prices (GasBuddy data: national average rose from $2.94 on March 1 to $3.66 on Saturday) could hurt Republicans in upcoming elections, predicting prices will fall after the conflict ends.

This report is based on the president's NBC News interview and related public statements; some claims reflect Trump administration assertions and have not been independently verified.

Source: NBC News