WASHINGTON — President Trump told The Post he “won’t be rushed” to end the Iran war on its 52nd day — and lashed out at Democrats and Republicans trying to force him to end the conflict.
“How bad is it that when you are in the middle of negotiations and you have got the Iranians in a perfect position, including being militarily defeated, and you have Democrats and some Republicans asking to settle it now?” Trump said in a phone interview.
“As a negotiator — and I am a great negotiator — how bad is it when you have people from your own country trying to reach a deal?” he fumed.
“They are helping the other side. The other side has nothing, they have no cards, but they are using this to delay. When [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer was in [as majority leader] he was in Afghanistan for so long.”
“I have only been in this for five weeks. I will not be rushed,” he said.
Trump has from the onset predicted a rapid conclusion and last week said Iran had agreed to core demands that Tehran abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and relinquish an estimated 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium — despite less conciliatory Iranian remarks.
The president last week blockaded Iran’s ports following an unsuccessful first round of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan — with a second round expected to start as early as Monday.
Trump said one day after the joint US-Israeli attack began that he expected the war to last “four weeks or so.”
The War Powers Resolution of 1973, which the White House argues is unconstitutional, says the president must receive congressional approval for conflicts lasting longer than 60 days.
