As the crisis in the Middle East continues to escalate and spread into Yemen, US President Donald Trump said Iran remains in contact with the United States and indicated he was willing to engage in discussions.
"We are locked and loaded," Trump warned during a dinner hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association.
"They're talking to us right now. They would very much like to make a deal. I don't think they're ready. I don't think this is the time yet, but I'm willing to listen. But they cannot have nuclear weapons," he said.
Trump argued that recent US military action had significantly weakened Iran's capabilities.
"We've hit Iran very hard there," he said, claiming that Iran's navy and air force had been severely degraded.
He asserted that "250 aircraft are no longer there" and that "159 vessels" had been sunk.
"They have no radar, they have very few drones left. Despite what you occasionally see, they may still do some things, but they don't have much left," he added.
"Everything comes down to this: we will not allow them to obtain a nuclear weapon. They would use it if they had it," Trump said.
Trump announces he will run for a "fourth" term and dons a "Trump 2028" hat pic.twitter.com/dtgujof2Vs
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The US president also confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the United States next week.
‘Trump 2028’
During the event, Trump wore a red cap bearing the slogan "TRUMP 2028" and announced that he intended to run for president again.
He then tossed the hat into the crowd.
Under the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, no person may be elected to the office of president more than twice.
CENTCOM strike on tanker
Meanwhile, US forces struck a tanker that allegedly attempted to breach the naval blockade imposed by the United States on Iran, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins said the tanker M/T Lavine was disabled in the Gulf of Oman after attempting to violate the blockade on at least four occasions.
"The crew was repeatedly warned, failed to comply, and US forces disabled the vessel by striking its engine room," Hawkins said.
He did not confirm reports carried by Iranian media that two people were killed in the attack.
Saudi-led coalition targets Houthis
At the same time, the Saudi-led coalition said it had struck military facilities belonging to Yemen's Houthi rebels, describing them as a threat to navigation in the Red Sea.
The operation was carried out in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the region, according to coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki.
The coalition responded "decisively and forcefully" after Houthi forces targeted merchant vessels in the Red Sea, al-Maliki said in a statement posted on X, adding that the military operation had now concluded.
