US President Donald Trump on Friday issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, saying the country is "finished" and must choose between a negotiated settlement or complete destruction, as he wrapped up a three-day visit to China where the Iran conflict was high on the agenda.
"Deal or annihilation for Iran," Trump said in an interview with Fox News on the final day of his trip.
"They're finished now; they can make a deal, or they will be annihilated," he added, stressing that the United States cannot "let Iran have a nuclear weapon," PTI reported.
The warning came after in-depth talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with whom Trump held multiple rounds of discussions over two days. Trump said Jinping had expressed a desire to see the conflict resolved.
"President Xi would like to see a deal between the US and Iran," Trump said, adding that Jinping had offered help, telling him, "If I could be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help."
Trump said he believes China also does not want Iran to have nuclear weapons.
On the question of Chinese military support for Iran, he said Jinping gave him a direct assurance. "He is not going to give military equipment" to Iran, Trump said. China currently buys around 90 per cent of Iranian oil and maintains a close strategic partnership with Tehran.
ALSO READ: Trump Signals Limited Patience On Iran, Says Effort Underway To Reopen Hormuz
On the military front, Trump said General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had told him the US could decisively neutralise Iran's Kharg Island in "four or five minutes." He added that Iran's navy had already been taken out and that it currently had no functional air force or anti-aircraft capabilities.
Trump also used the trip to push trade. He said Jinping agreed to order 200 Boeing jets — "big ones" — and expressed openness to buying American oil, with Trump saying Chinese ships would begin heading to Texas, Louisiana and Alaska.
Additionally, he requested that China use Visa for trade and indicated that China is set to purchase a substantial amount of American agricultural products, which he described as “great.”
Trump praised Jinping as a "tremendous leader," saying, "We just have a good relationship."
ALSO READ: Tense Physical Standoff Erupts Between US Secret Service, Chinese Police During Trump Visit — Video
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