US President Donald Trump has alleged that the United States secretly sent weapons to protesters in Iran through Kurds earlier this year, but that Iranian ethnic group may have held on to them instead of passing them along.
"We sent guns to the protesters, a lot of them. We sent to the Kurds" said the US president in an interview with Fox News, adding, "And I think the Kurds kept them"
In the interview, Trump also said that believes there's a "good chance" a deal can be made with Iran by Monday. "I think there is a good chance tomorrow, they are negotiating now," he said. However, he also gave a warning that, "If they don't make a deal and fast, I'm considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil."
Adding to his claims, Trump also said that current Iranian negotiators have been granted "limited amnesty" during as the talks go on. Iran has not given any official statement on these negotiation talks.
This comes as Trump, on Saturday, gave Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to open the Straight of Hormuz or he'll blow up their power plants and other infra. In an expletive- laced rant, Trump later on Sunday made a post on Truth Social, saying, "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F*****’ Strait, you crazy b******s, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah."
Trump has set similar deadlines in the past but extended them while claiming he or the mediators claims progress toward ending the conflict.
Both sides have also struck and threatened civilian infrastructure, including oil fields and desalination plants vital for drinking water, raising concerns over long-term consequences of escalating conflict.
Later, in an interview Axios, while again claiming that he can get a deal done, Trump also downplayed the risk of civilians being targeted, saying that Iranians would be support, as they're "living in fear". Asked if he was worried that he would be harming innocent Iranian civilians, Trump said he thinks civilians who oppose their government would support such strikes to weaken the regime. "They are living in fear. They are afraid we are gonna leave in the middle of the war, but we are not going to leave," Trump said.
