US President Donald Trump has said that dialogue between Washington and Tehran continues, adding that a massive attack may not be required, although the United States remains "locked and loaded".
Iran has responded with aggressive statements, as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran does not fear threats or succumb to pressure.
Meanwhile, the Iranian military has said it launched strikes targeting US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Reacting to the response strikes from Iran, Trump said, "They are talking to us right now; they'd love to make a deal. I don't think they're ready to.
I don't think it's time yet, but I'm willing to listen, but they cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump said while giving remarks during the annual Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC.
He asserted that American military forces' recent attacks on Iran had weakened Iranian forces, claiming, "We've hit Iran very hard there."
He said that "their Navy is gone" and "their Air Force is gone", specifically noting "250 jets no longer" and "159 boats" at the bottom of the sea.
"The drone fleet is nearing the end; their radar systems are not working, though you see every once in a while they're going to set some things up, but they don't have much left," he added.
"This is all about how we will not let them have a nuclear weapon," warning that "they would use it. They would use it if they had it," he added.
Also read: US imposes 10 pc tariff on Indian goods
Follow us
