Asked if he thought it was time to officially end the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which is still nominally in place, Trump said, “Let’s say I knew exactly what you wanted…and somehow I know. Why would I tell you?”
He also said that America’s NATO allies “should step in and support us” because they are more dependent on oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz than the United States.
“We don’t need it. We have plenty of oil,” he said.
But when asked if he had approached NATO to join in reopening the strait, Trump said: “They would do it if I wanted, but I don’t know if that’s what I want.”
“We don’t need them. We don’t need NATO. Their rhetoric was very weak and very sad,” Trump said. “They said, ‘We’ll help you as soon as the war is over.'”
president trump
Hello.
Eamonn Gervase
Hello, Mr. President. I’m Eamon Javers from CNBC. How is it going?
president trump
Hello Eamon. What’s going on, Eamonn?
Eamonn Gervase
Well, it seems like the market is operating on the idea that the Iranian side is saying they’re not going to negotiate anymore, but could you confirm that?
president trump
What does it mean that they are moving?
Eamonn Gervase
Now, regarding the oil market, when that news broke, oil prices fluctuated dramatically by over 8%. The idea is that if the war doesn’t end, oil will become even more expensive because Iran won’t negotiate. Did the Iranians tell you they are not going to negotiate, or what is your feeling?
president trump
No, it’s not. That’s what they said, they just want to spread fake news, Eamonn. They just want to tell CNN that and they can’t get any more fake than your company. If you look at prices, oil is up 7%.
Eamonn Gervase
7%, yes.
president trump
Well, that’s part of the job as a negotiator, but many people will be very happy, so they don’t have the cards. The stock market is down just a little bit. Yes, it’s okay.
Eamonn Gervase
Do you think the negotiations are over or do you think this is a bluff?
president trump
To be honest, I don’t care if it ends. I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less. Once they’re done, it’s over. If not, I think it took too long. Frankly, I thought it was starting to get very boring. They gave us what we needed, but I think they were bad at negotiating. It took too long. I thought they were directing us, but that’s it. Yes, they were.
Eamonn Gervase
Do they think time has stopped?
president trump
Yeah. Yes, I thought so.
Eamonn Gervase
So what’s next? So how can we open the Strait now?
president trump
I think it’s almost time, but the strait is already open. If you think all you have to do is take a look at the many boats that have sailed out there in the last week. You know, the boats are sailing, we’re sailing, we’re blockading, we’re blocking them, they’re blocking the straits, and we’re blocking them, and our blockade is much stricter than theirs. As far as I’m concerned, they could continue to lose $500 million a day, and that’s what they continue to lose with the lockdown, and they could continue to lose that. So what is their problem? Their problem is with Israel, right?
Eamonn Gervase
Apparently, they are saying that they will not negotiate until Israel stops attacking Lebanon. Have you talked to Prime Minister Netanyahu about that?
president trump
No, but I’ll ask him what’s going on in Lebanon. They’ve been fighting for a long time, they’ve been fighting for a long time.
Eamonn Gervase
Are you worried about oil prices?
president trump
no
Eamonn Gervase
Given that negotiations have clearly broken down? no?
president trump
No, don’t worry about that, no.
Eamonn Gervase
Why not? Are you confident that this will be short-lived?
president trump
Yeah –
Eamonn Gervase
Or are you confident that the oil market can survive this situation?
president trump
I think oil will fall like rocks very close to you, and I mean very close distances. I think it will reduce the oil considerably. There are currently 1,700 boats loaded with oil, which would create an oil gush. So I’m not worried at all, and the people understand that, and the only thing I care about, the only thing I care about, all the things that I care about, at this point in my life, is that Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons. And if they try to get new nuclear weapons, I’ll blow them up until the kingdom comes.
Eamonn Gervase
One of the things we’ve seen is that there’s a huge concern among Americans about gas prices. What is your message to Americans about gas prices?
president trump
Once that is over, things will calm down quickly and Iran will not have nuclear weapons. If you explain that this is all because Iran has nuclear weapons, people will be willing to pay a little more, and that will happen quickly, and as soon as that happens, gas will drop to $1.85 like it did in Iowa three months ago. I was in Iowa when it was really cheap at $1.85 a gallon.
Eamonn Gervase
And you say when this is all over, then how do you end this now if there are no negotiations and no ceasefire? So, is it time to end the ceasefire?
president trump
Well, let’s see. For example, let’s say I knew exactly what you wanted right now. And I think so too. Why would I tell you?
Eamonn Gervase
fair enough. fair enough. So I think it’s just the global market that’s paying attention to this and trying to figure out what the end result is.
president trump
Well, then I think NATO should step in and help us. We don’t need the Straits because we don’t use them. we have a lot of oil. We don’t need oil because we have twice as much oil as Saudi Arabia and Russia combined, but Europe does. We are doing a service for so many other people, mainly because we don’t think we can do it yet. We are doing this because we know we cannot allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. That’s why I’m doing it.
Eamonn Gervase
Have you talked to anyone at NATO about that? In other words, did they change their attitude in the Strait?
president trump
If I wanted, they would, but they do. I hope you do that. you don’t need them. We don’t need NATO. They were very, very weak and very sad. What they said is that they will help you as soon as the war is over. NATO, Europe has lost its way. They have tremendous immigration problems. And we have tremendous energy problems. Because all they want to do is build windmills everywhere.
Then please give me a call. Give me a call tomorrow and we’ll talk about it. Let’s see what’s going on – okay?
Eamonn Gervase
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you very much for your time.
president trump
thank you very much.
Eamonn Gervase
Yes, bye.
