Trump speaking
at a US-Saudi investment forum in Riyadh, praised leaders in Saudi Arabia,
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for turning their capitals into hubs of
commerce and called it his “fervent hope” that Saudi Arabia would
eventually normalize relations with Israel.
The president portraying himself as a peacemaker for global
conflicts, took a softer tone toward Iran as his administration seeks to
reach a deal with Tehran over its nuclear program.
“As I have shown repeatedly, I am willing to end past
conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even
if our differences may be very profound, which obviously they are in the case
of Iran,” Trump said.
“I want
to make a deal with Iran. If I can make a deal with Iran I’ll be very
happy,” Trump added. “We’re going to make your region and the world a safer
place. But if Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to
attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive,
maximum pressure.”
Trump said the olive branch to Iran “will not last
forever.”
Officials from Iran and the US have been engaged in
talks in recent weeks around Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump during his
first term withdrew the US from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal,
which had offered sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear
program.
The
president has in recent days signaled he could be open to Iran having a
civilian nuclear program but has been adamant that Tehran cannot have a
nuclear weapon.
Trump also on Tuesday announced he was rolling back
sanctions on Syria at the urging of allies in the Middle East in an effort
to boost the new government in Damascus.
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