JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon defended the Trump administration's decision to go to war with Iran, saying the Tehran regime has been "killing people around the world for 45-plus years."
Speaking to Axios CEO Jim VendeHei, Dimon wondered why the "Western world put up with these proxy wars for 45 years," in reference to groups funded by Tehran in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen. "They have terrorist cells here," he added, speaking from New York City.
"They've been killing people around the world for 45-plus years. They've killed a lot of Americans," Dimon said in another passage of the interview, adding that the country "never gave up on nuclear" ambitions. "They were bad."
Dimon went on to acknowledge short-term economic uncertainty, including soaring oil prices as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but said he "prays" the conflict "ends well." "I literally hope it turns out well and that somehow we get peace in the Middle East permanently," he added, claiming that such an outcome would ultimately be beneficial for the global economy.
However, the war does not seem to be close to an end at the moment. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that negotiations to reach a ceasefire have reached a dead end after Tehran officials called U.S. demands unacceptable and conveyed that they won't meet with Washington counterparts in Islamabad in the coming days.
War-related headlines on Friday also include ongoing search and rescue efforts for two pilots of an F-15 fighter jet downed in Iran earlier today. One of them has been located and safely evacuated, while forces continue looking for the second pilot. Israeli TV station Channel 12 reported that both members ejected safely but got separated. The pilot has been rescued and the navigator has made contact as well but is still being searched for. President Donald Trump declined to speak about the search and rescue efforts. Asked if the development would impact negotiations with Tehran, he said: "No, not at all. No, it's war."
Iranian media also said on Friday that another U.S. aircraft, an A-10, was hit by its defenses. The Associated Press noted that no other information was immediately available about the incident, including the whereabouts of the pilot.
