It is unclear whom Trump is referring to, but he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that Iran's new leader is "much less radicalized and far more intelligent" than the previous ones, and has now asked for a ceasefire.
The US will consider this "when the Strait of Hormuz is open, free and clear," according to Trump. Until then, however, the US will bomb Iran "back to the Stone Age," Trump says.
Warning from the Speaker
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned 15 minutes before Trump's post on X about "quotes taken out of context." He also reiterated previous claims that Trump and his circle are driven by short-term financial gains.
Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard came out shortly afterwards in state media with a statement: "The Strait of Hormuz is stable and firmly under the control of the Revolutionary Guard fleet, and this strait will not be opened to the country's enemies by ridiculous displays from the US president."
Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, described Trump's statement on Iranian state television as "false and baseless," according to news agencies.
Trump has previously said he expects the US to stop attacking Iran in "two to three weeks." The remark came as he responded to a question from reporters at the White House about rising gas prices. He said, "All I have to do is get out of Iran, and we'll do that very soon, and they (prices) will go down."
But we will finish the job, and I think it will be within maybe two weeks, maybe a few more days," he said, according to news agencies.
Trump then dismissed concerns about the Strait of Hormuz, which is so important for oil traffic. The responsibility for keeping it open will instead fall on countries that depend on the strait. There is "no reason for us to do it," he said.
400 targets in two days
In parallel with the developments, attacks continue. Explosions and rocket attacks were reported on Wednesday in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan, among others.
Several loud explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran during the afternoon, and the Israeli military said the country's air force had attacked around 400 targets in Iran in the last two days.
Explosions were heard across several Israeli cities as the country's air defenses fought off a wave of Iranian missiles. At least 14 people were injured in an attack near Tel Aviv, AFP reports.
