The US and Iran: Verbatim Quotes from Both Sides
What leaders have actually said about the United States and Iran — strikes, the nuclear programme, and the Strait of Hormuz — verbatim, with sources.
“The reason we lost is the war”
“largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term”
“reason we lost is the war”
“he is a Muslim Brotherhood guy, 100 percent”
“couldn't transfer the love”
“We're not fighting a war. Everyone says 'you're at war!' Well, when was the last time we fired anything?”
“absolutely willing to accept those results”
“It’s a bad talking point because you’d say — ‘Why don’t we give everybody $4 billion?’”
“when I say it’s over, basically”
“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won in landslide!”
“Democrats will send things that are insane and I will veto them”
“not looking to kill lots of people”
“both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement”
“Oil prices are dropping like a rock, down almost $10 a barrel, a record, because people feel that there will not be a war with Iran. Iran wants a settlement as soon as possible. It could happen!”
“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly … Do I drive them into hell?”
“We’ll defend our country, our culture and our heritage for generations to come”
“the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement”
“medical supplies and various things”
“could never function in the same way”
“a number of good conversations with the Iranians”
“You guys have got the worst congressman in the entire United States!”
“we don’t like to hear a thing like that”
“extreme and dangerous radicals”
“contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region”
“ten times the cost of the war”
“wisdom and solutions to resolving the region's security dilemmas”
“Let’s say I did, would I tell you? Let's say I didn't, would I tell you?”
“going to get wrapped up soon”
“but you know they’re not very reliable”
“we can achieve military objectives if we seek to”
“We’d be addressing them as ‘Sir.’”
“should have been taken care of long before I came here”
“Somebody asked me before, when will the war in Iran end?”
“forever eliminate the existential threat of Iran”
“I have a decision to make: Do I finish it off, which would be very easy to do, or do I make a deal?”
“evolve in a positive direction”
“strong, brave and brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition”
“Somebody said, ‘If you had it to do again…'”
“But I said, ‘I don’t give a damn, I’m gonna say it: We’re making a frickin’ fortune,’”
“the specter of ethnic cleansing”
“that would finally, finally, remove the Iranian threat”
“very factual, quite evidence-based debate about this”
“that our enemies, Iran and its proxies, could challenge us with attacks in order to disrupt the elections”
“outstanding Warrior Prime Minister”
“we’re taking in massive amounts of money through tariffs”
“in total and complete freefall”
“getting to be decision time”
“they want to make a deal, but the problem is, will they hold the deal?”
“taking a pragmatic approach to the North Sea”
“We may do another little Epic Fury”
“deep into negotiations with Cuba”
“Do we want to finish it off or just want to let it wither?”
“But the only leader to do it in Israel is me...and he (Trump) said, 'I won't do it with anyone else.'”
“unusual and extraordinary threat”
“something one way or another”
“prevention and offence over containment and defence”
“overthrow the regime in Iran”
“Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its 51 year old chant, ‘Death to Israel, Death to America! We will destroy the Little Satan and the Big Satan,’”
“We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America!”
“Great Warrior Prime Minister”
“very little, if anything, to help the Islamic Republic of Iran”
“BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
“Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. Who wants to take the chance?”
“systematically destroyed, both Militarily and Financially, and unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job”
“Together we will complete the mission!”
“forge a different future, a different Middle East, and also a different world”
“not just because of Iran and not just because of the straits of Hormuz but increasingly because of the Houthis attacking Saudi Arabia”
“Somebody said, ‘Oh, well, was it worth it?’ I said, ‘They cannot have a nuclear weapon; they can’t, because they’ll use it,’”
“Soldiers, radars, defence systems”
“They should be prosecuted!”
“Radical Left Morons and Lunatics”
“I see so many comments from the Radical Left Morons and Lunatics that China and Russia are helping the 'wonderful' Islamic Republic of Iran. If they are, it’s at a very low level, but I don’t believe they are at all. They have too much to lose, and we would know about it, and know about it very fast!”
“to the American and global marketplace”
“Between our TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!”
“We have some big surprises coming up in another few weeks, right, Russ?”
“the bully of the Middle East and not so much the bully anymore, but we have to finish up. And it’s only a question of which way. Do we want to do it the nice way or the not-so-nice way?”
“real efforts to end the war”
“productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran”
“the nice way or the not-so-nice way”
“it's not totally clear how their country makes decisions”
“This isn’t about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!”
“I think the people who have run CNN for the last long period of time are a disgrace”
“unprecedented step to bring down costs”
“We should go on television with this show, right?”
“out of an abundance of caution, trying to protect our guys”
“constantly reallocating resources where they need to be”
“for the most part, want peace”
“we have achieved enormous accomplishments, but there are still missions ahead of us, and we intend to complete them”
“weaker than it has been since its establishment”
“under view for a long time”
“it will end very soon one way or the other”
“I'm considering everything that might help people in very difficult times and I will be honest and say every possible measure is being looked at. The question I've got is: 'How many can I afford? What can we do given the state of the public finances?'”
“The Republic of Korea Deal keeps getting BETTER! 8.4 Billion Dollars for an enhanced Oil Recovery Project. Producing more Oil and Gas means American Energy Dominance and Energy Security in the World for the Future!”
“I stated, numerous times, that it would take 4-6 weeks to get rid of THE IRAN NUCLEAR THREAT, and I did it in one night!”
“created peace in the world”
“I can’t tell you that because look, you know, you’re asking, where are you going to bomb?”
“not involved in politics anymore”
“interested in making sure this doesn’t happen again”
“strong indications that Iran played a part”
“the terrorist organisations it funds”
“really hates the way that things have gone with Iran”
“failing very badly, very badly”
“I wouldn't have done that”
“were looking to do big damage to our fort”
“clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor”
“a lot of people are disturbed”
“always take every step necessary”
“Much has been, and will be, accomplished. I look forward to our next meeting!”
“… would have been the easiest victory that we would ever have won”
“IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!!!”
“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before — maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world?”
“cause a problem for the world”
“that nobody has ever seen before”
“one of Friendship, Strength, and Success, for both China and the USA”
“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? Do I drive them into hell?”
“than at any point since the start of the war”
“our farmers are going to be happy”
“I think we're going to do great”
“I think our farmers are going to be happy”
“strategic stability on the basis of respect, fairness and reciprocity”
“if there’s an opportunity to exchange ideas and messages, we will”
“one of his 'easiest' decisions”
“We do not believe it is right to impose on Türkiye a choice between 'the West or the East,'”
“strong increases in prices”
“a very inexpensive price to pay”
“In the last three years, our heroic soldiers have fought a war on seven fronts. Do you know of any other country the size of New Jersey that can fight for three years on seven fronts?”
“ensure that the development of AI is always under human control”
“President Trump has pledged to make America great again”
“common understanding on many issues”
“no greater partner than President Trump”
“battle against the barbarians”
“why we are conducting the special military operation”
“always under human control”
“was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make”
“I actually think it's sort of treasonous what you write”
“I actually think it’s treason when you write, like, ‘They’re doing well militarily.’”
“but I want to leave it exactly where it is. That is China's position also. Our guardrail is the DOJ!”
“tell the truth about our heroic soldiers”
“I want to leave it exactly where it is. That is China’s position also. Our guardrail is the DOJ!”
“we all know what it's about”
“seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean ‘THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.’”
“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before?”
“the two largest economies in the world”
“annihilate the Islamic Republic”
“You should not be here covering me. You said you weren't going to cover me. You shouldn't be covering me”
“that we will work to find that resolution between the different sides”
“Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness for generations?”
“I believe we’ll make a deal right after the elections”
“I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before… or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly?”
“Do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”
“Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?”
“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly?”
“to find the right deal in order to open”
“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”
“I’ve told a lot of very good friends of mine, ‘You just can’t come.'”
“I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before â maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy again? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness?”
“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world. Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”
“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before?… Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”
“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before – maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world – or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly?”
“established a good connection”
“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival?”
“What is the purpose of the United Nations?”
“especially if it has the prospects of leading to something positive and ultimately achieving the goal of what this is all about”
“go in and annihilate them”
“Very Inexpensive Price To Pay”
“an extremely powerful tool that can stop this terrorist war and bring Russia to the point where it has to make peace”
“appears to be posing a major obstacle”
“wants to make a deal, quickly and badly”
“The word 'Deficit' is nothing more than a fancy word for LOSS. We are 'carrying' almost every country in the World, and that cannot go on any longer. LOWER THE INTEREST RATES FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND FAST!”
“a very fluid and dynamic thing”
“Exquisite and Elite Weapons”
“small, little private affair”
“I said, 'You know, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things,'”
“isn’t done by the Middle East, this is done by what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine”
“going to be stopping the stupid windmills”
“weaponisation of technology and critical minerals”
“right after the mid-terms”
“strategic and long-term perspective”
“represent 50% of the world's population, 40% of global GDP, and more than 25% of global trade”
“long-term and win-win strategy”
“positive, constructive and meaningful”
“still knocks at the door of democracy”
“has no plans at this time”
“grateful to India for its commitment to ending this unjust war”
“Guys come up, ‘You know, I wish you didn’t do the war in Iran. Gasoline’s up.’ And I say, ‘Well, let me ask you this, smart people … Can Iran have a nuclear weapon? Absolutely not. Well, then I’m right.’”
“Customers are being 'gouged,'”
“pretend I’m on the ballot”
“the most successful two years, financially and every other way, in the history of the presidency”
“the biggest oil deal in the history of our country”
“can’t hold out any longer”
“not looking to attack Nato territory”
“never targets civilians in combat”
“a very functioning strait”
“So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!”
“never an opportunity to resume aggression against Ukraine”
+13 sources
- gazetteherald.co.uk ↗︎
- tivysideadvertiser.co.uk ↗︎
- somersetcountygazette.co.uk ↗︎
- lancashiretelegraph.co.uk ↗︎
- maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk ↗︎
- surreycomet.co.uk ↗︎
- messengernewspapers.co.uk ↗︎
- clydebankpost.co.uk ↗︎
- redditchadvertiser.co.uk ↗︎
- ludlowadvertiser.co.uk ↗︎
- gazette-news.co.uk ↗︎
- dorsetecho.co.uk ↗︎
- dudleynews.co.uk ↗︎
“much more substantial change”
“stop shooting at commercial shipping”
“12, 13, 14, 15 per cent”
“a lot of ammunition, different types”
“some of the more sophisticated stuff”