Follow-up-INA
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that a prolonged conflict could have led to a global recession, adding that a naval blockade was a key factor in bringing Iran to the negotiating table.
Speaking to Axios, Trump said that Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been seriously injured during recent events. He described him as courageous and said developments in Iran amounted to a regime change, adding that Khamenei differs from his father.
Trump also said that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran could be viewed as an "unconditional Iranian surrender." He renewed his criticism of the 2015 nuclear agreement, describing it as a "disaster."
He added that he had not spoken with Iran's new Supreme Leader but believed he possessed a degree of courage. Trump said he negotiated from a position of strength because, in his words, Iran's navy and air force had been "finished."