Trump Says Decisions on Iran Response Are Underway... Will He Meet the Iranian President?

[Anchor]

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that something very big is going to happen soon regarding the situation with Iran. Trump also left open the possibility of holding a meeting with the Iranian president.

Our correspondent Kim Hyunwoo has more from New York.

[Reporter]

President Trump said during a phone interview with a Fox News reporter on the 20th local time that he is in the process of deciding on a response toward Iran.

Fox News reported that President Trump presented wiping out Iran, economically strangling the country, and reaching an agreement as possible options, adding that they will need to behave themselves.

Regarding the possibility of a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, Trump answered that he would probably be open to it.

President Trump is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on the 22nd local time, and Iranian President Pezeshkian is planning to take the podium the following day.

This is interpreted as an attempt to pressure Iran into an agreement by mentioning the possibility of launching massive new attacks against the country while simultaneously raising the prospect of a summit between the two leaders.

President Trump had originally planned to spend the past weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat, but he returned to the White House a day ahead of schedule.

This has led to speculation that some changes may have occurred in the Middle East situation.

Iran has reiterated that its conditions have already been conveyed through mediators and that the United States must keep its promises for negotiations to take place.

[Interview / Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf / Speaker of the Iranian Parliament : Until the United States fulfills its promises, we will never return to previous negotiation terms or reopen the Strait of Hormuz.]

At the same time, Iran warned that if the United States launches another attack against it, all U.S. bases and assets will become targets for painful strikes.

(Photo courtesy of Lee Hee-hoon | Video Editing by Kim Byung-jik)

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