US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Washington will either reach an agreement with Iran or “finish the job,” while Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the implementation of their bilateral ceasefire agreement as “difficult, but achievable.”
“Iran prefers reaching an agreement, and we obtained concessions from it,” Trump said, noting that the US had not provided any money to Iran, in reference to frozen Iranian funds.
Ghalibaf, who also serves as Iran’s parliament speaker, asserted in comments broadcast by Iranian state television that Tehran is “not at peace with the US” and “will not recognise” Israel. He added that “revenge” for the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “will be achieved through the liberation of Jerusalem.” He made these remarks during a meeting with Hamas leader Mohammad Darwish, known as “Abu Omar Hassan,” who was offering condolences at Khamenei’s funeral.
The developments come as a poll conducted last week by Focaldata for the Financial Times showed that 58% of registered US voters believe the war with Iran “was not worth the cost that it entailed.” The newspaper reported that the poll showed a decline in Trump’s popularity and widespread skepticism regarding the “memorandum of understanding” signed between Washington and Tehran, while Democrats maintain a lead in voting intentions for the congressional midterm elections in November.
Separately, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened Iranian leaders with the same fate as Khamenei during the ongoing funeral ceremonies.
“Any Iranian leader who attempts to proceed with plans aimed at destroying Israel will be thwarted,” Katz said, according to a spokesperson cited by CNN. Katz claimed Israel eliminated Khamenei because he led a regional plan to destroy Israel, adding that US and Israeli strikes “removed the direct existential threats that were facing Israel, and severely damaged Iranian strategic capabilities.”
