- BIST10011,333+2.81%
- USD50.03+0.05%
- EUR56.26+0.56%
- GOLD4,125.60+1.29%
- INTEREST36.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN76,416-4.99%
- November 5, 202622°
- BIST10011,333+2.81%
- USD50.03+0.05%
- EUR56.26+0.56%
- GOLD4,125.60+1.29%
- INTEREST36.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN76,416-4.99%
- November 5, 202622°
Trump says Iran asked US to 'please stop killing our leaders' as he declares the war won and touts an oil plunge
On the eve of the midterms, President Trump told a crowd at the newly reopened Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool that Iran wants a deal and has asked Washington to stop killing its leaders. Vice President JD Vance said the administration feels good about the prospects for a negotiated settlement.
President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran had asked the United States to stop killing its leaders and that Washington would oblige, signaling a softer line toward Tehran as Qatari mediators carry a draft proposal aimed at ending the US-Iran war.
Speaking at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, where he formally reopened the renovated landmark on the last day before Tuesday's midterm elections, Trump folded a string of Iran remarks into a speech largely devoted to the pool's makeover. He started with oil.
Markets did move sharply. Brent crude fell $8.47, or about 7.5%, to $104.96 a barrel by early afternoon in New York, while West Texas Intermediate slid 7.2% to $96.62, as traders bet that diplomacy could head off a new round of fighting. Analysts urged caution: Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov pointed to the "false dawns" of recent months. Trump then turned to the prospects for an agreement.
"They want to make a deal, and that could happen," he said of the Iranians. He also cast the conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as finished business.
"We had a war with Iran. We won," Trump said. He added that a deal "looks like that's coming together very nicely," suggesting that word of progress explained the slide in crude prices: "People found out about it."
'Please stop killing our leaders'
The most striking line came when Trump described what Tehran had asked of Washington: "Iran asked us, 'Please stop killing our leaders,' and we will."
The remark echoed what he has been saying on the campaign trail. In Georgia on Oct. 24, he said he had to "stop" killing Iranian leaders in order to find someone to negotiate with, and in Iowa on Sunday he said the US "may have gone a little too far," leaving no one to talk to. Iran's current supreme leader is Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ali Khamenei.
Vance: 'We've certainly made some progress'
Vice President JD Vance, speaking to Fox News after a campaign stop, struck a similar tone. "Trump and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement," he said. "We've certainly made some progress. We'll see if we can make some more."
Qatar carries a draft to Tehran
Iranian negotiators spent several days in talks with Qatari mediators, and a draft proposal is now circulating, according to an official briefed on the discussions. Reuters reported that the mediators were set to travel to Tehran late Monday to discuss the draft with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the supreme leader had granted the government "certain authorities" for peace talks and that Tehran "will try to resolve the problem with dialogue."
Tehran has not publicly responded to Trump's latest remark. Iran's foreign ministry says the next move belongs to Washington, and Tehran maintains that the Strait of Hormuz cannot reopen until the US ends its naval blockade. Gulf states, meanwhile, are reportedly bracing for possible US strikes on Iran, and Iranian retaliation, after Tuesday's vote.
Videos: The White House, Fox News
Stay Updated with Ally Daily
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
