Trump: may have to hit Iran harder - or maybe not

NEW LONDON, Connecticut, ‌May 20 (Reuters) - ​President ​Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States may have to attack Iran ‌even harder but will wait and see ⁠if a deal is reached, reprising the "either/or" rhetoric he has ‌used since announcing a ‌ceasefire six weeks ago.

"We'll see what happens," Trump said during a commencement address at the U.S. ​Coast Guard Academy. "We hit them very hard. We may have to hit them even harder - ⁠but maybe not."

"We will not let Iran have a nuclear weapon. It's ​very simple," Trump told the cadets.

He said Iran's military might is largely gone and ​the only question is whether ‌the U.S. goes back to finish the job or will Iran sign a ⁠deal.

"Everything's gone. Their navy's gone. Their air force is gone. Just about everything. The only question is, ⁠do we go and finish it up? Are they going to ​be signing a document? Let's see what happens," Trump said in a commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard ‌Academy.

Trump said earlier on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran were in the final ‌stages, while warning of additional attacks unless Iran ⁠agrees to a deal ‌on its nuclear ​program.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose, Katharine Jackson, Doina Chiacu; Editing by Michelle Nichols and Caitlin ‌Webber)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• U.S. debt tops $40 trillion
• Japan's core inflation accelerates in July, bolsters case for rate hike
• T. Rowe Price agrees to acquire fixed income asset manager F/m Investments