US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US could "leave the Iran operation right now and still leave Tehran unable to rebuild for more than a decade," but explained that that's "not an acceptable situation."
“If we left right now, it would take them at least 10 years to rebuild, but rebuild they will,” Trump said in the roughly 15-minute call with CNBC.
“If we stay longer, they’ll never rebuild,” he added.
Trump additionally shared that the US and Israel have “largely similar” goals for the outcome of military operations in Iran.
“The difference is, they live right next door. We don’t. That’s a big difference,” he said.
Later on Friday, while speaking to reporters before boarding an aircraft, Trump stated that he believes that Israel will be ready to end the war when the US is ready to do so.
He also stated that he does not want a ceasefire with Iran, but may be willing to engage in dialog with the Iranian regime.
“We can have a dialogue, but I don't want to do a ceasefire. You know, you don't do a ceasefire when you're obliterating the other side," he said.
This is a developing story.