Trump on the F-35 deal with Turkey: "Nobody tells me who to sell to and who not to"

Mediating countries, led by Qatar and Pakistan, have advanced their efforts to bring the parties back to the negotiating table, the Associated Press reported today, Monday, citing regional officials.

US President Donald Trump said in a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One:

"They want to meet, and we are meeting. We'll see what happens. There is a chance we will reach a deal. Without what we did, they wouldn't be talking to us at all."

The two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the contacts, said that the mediators are working to bridge the gaps between Washington and Tehran and return the parties to the temporary ceasefire agreement, which collapsed following the exchange of fire.

Trump added that "Iran has taken a heavy hit in the last 14 days, and they asked us very nicely: please stop, let's meet. That's where we are now. We'll see what happens." He clarified that if a deal is not reached, "we will go back to the same place."

One of the regional officials described the progress in the mediation efforts as "significant" and said that the mediators are working with Iran and Oman on a mechanism to manage the passage of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, from which the latest wave of attacks stemmed. Iran demands recognition of its sovereignty over the strait, claims the right to manage traffic within it and collect fees, and argues that the interim agreement with the US grants it this right. Washington rejects these demands and is promoting an alternative route adjacent to the coast of Oman, the "southern route," which Tehran views as an attempt to erode its control.

Trump was asked about his upcoming meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu and whether the two see eye-to-eye on the Iran issue, and replied: "Pretty close. We have a small difference, but pretty close." Trump also responded to reports that a shortage of interceptors and munitions led to the decision not to escalate the attack, saying: "No, we have plenty. We have a lot of ammunition, of different types. We are in a very good position, but as far as the more sophisticated things go, we would definitely like to have more."

The president was later asked if Netanyahu wants him to reach a deal with Iran or to continue the attacks, and replied:

"I'm not going to say that. But Bibi was great. He was a war prime minister. We worked very well together. And if you look at Iran now, they are 8% of what they were four months ago. So we'll see how it all works out."

The president was also asked about Netanyahu's opposition to the sale of F-35 aircraft to Turkey, and dismissed it:

"No, look, Turkey has been a great ally for me. I think he did a very good job, did a good job in Syria. He is a friend of mine, and nobody tells me what we should sell. And Turkey has been a tremendous ally. It depends on Turkey. Turkey is not a big fan of Israel. You know that, right?"

Later, Trump listed countries that he said would not have survived without the US:

"And you know who wouldn't have survived without us? Israel. Bibi is coming. He will tell you. If I hadn't intervened, and if I hadn't blown to dust, as I call it, that same weapon that was about to become nuclear, Israel would have been finished months and years ago, if I hadn't killed the terrible Obama deal."