US President Donald Trump says Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf countries have asked him to hold off on further large-scale attacks against Iran, claiming he could destroy the country’s energy infrastructure, bridges and manufacturing facilities within three days, Al Jazeera reports.
In an interview with Stephen A Smith at the White House, Trump has said he could end the war immediately but was maintaining economic and military pressure at the request of regional allies.
“Saudi Arabia has asked me to please just let it be the way it is now for a while,” he says, adding that Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain prefer the current approach. “I’m not sure I agree with it,” Trump adds.
Asked whether he would have launched further attacks without those requests, Trump replies: “Yes, I would.”
“In one day their energy is gone. In one day their bridges are gone. And in one day their manufacturing capability is gone. It would only take me three days,” he has said.
Trump has also acknowledged that rising petrol prices caused by the war had contributed to the Republicans’ defeat in the midterm elections, but defended his decision to attack Iran.
