Trump: ‘Too soon’ to make a deal with Iran

President Trump on Thursday said it’s “too soon” to consider making a deal with Iran amid mounting tensions between the two countries, despite the president’s recent insistence that he’s open to talking with Tehran.

Trump tweeted that he was appreciative of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe traveling to Iran to meet with Iranian leaders as a mediator, but that he felt he could not begin to “even think about making a deal.”

“They are not ready, and neither are we!” Trump tweeted.

While I very much appreciate P.M. Abe going to Iran to meet with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, I personally feel that it is too soon to even think about making a deal. They are not ready, and neither are we!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019 

{mosads}Iran and the U.S. have no direct diplomatic channels, raising concerns among international observers that the lack of communication could spark a larger conflict.

Trump’s tweet came hours after two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman were attacked. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a statement moments after the president’s tweet blaming Iran for the incident.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have steadily increased in the year since Trump pulled out of the Obama-era nuclear deal that offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for assurances it would curb its nuclear weapons program.

The Trump administration has imposed various sanctions on Iran in the time since in an effort to cripple the country’s economy, and recently announced plans to deploy additional troops to the region.

Despite that, Trump has said in multiple recent press appearances that he’s open to talking with Iranian leadership.

“I think we’ll make a deal,” Trump said during a press conference with Abe in Tokyo late last month. “It has a chance to be a great country, with the same leadership. We’re not looking for regime change. I just want to make that clear. We’re looking for no nuclear weapons.”

However, Iranian leaders have dismissed the idea out of hand, arguing Trump is not trustworthy.

“I do not see Trump as worthy of any message exchange, and I do not have any reply for him, now or in future,” Iran’s supreme leader told Abe on Thursday, according to state media.