Trump says 'we’re looking at better than a ceasefire' as Iran and Israel exchange more strikes
We've just heard more from US President Donald Trump, who was speaking to reporters on Air Force One.
Trump says he's not looking for a ceasefire, but "we’re looking at better than a ceasefire".
When asked what's better than a ceasefire, he says: "A real end. Not a ceasefire. An end."
More now from Trump, who when asked if he can do anything more for Israel, tells reporters "right now we’re doing pretty well. Remember, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon".
On his call for people to evacuate from Tehran, the US president says: "I just want people to be safe.
Trump says he hasn't reached out to Iran for peace talks
On his Truth Social platform, Trump has just posted that he has not reached out to Iran about ceasefire talks "in any way, shape, or form".
The US president adds that Iran should have signed a deal that he put forward during the most recent talks over Iran's nuclear programme.
He writes: "This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS! If they want to talk, they know how to reach me. They should have taken the deal that was on the table - Would have saved a lot of lives!!!"
Shortly after Air Force One lifted off from Canada, Donald Trump came back to speak with reporters in the press pool.
He told us that he wasn’t flying back to Washington just to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel – he wanted much more than that. He wanted “better than a ceasefire”.
When pressed about what that might mean, he was still somewhat opaque.
“A real end,” he said – one that might include “a complete give-up” on the part of Iran. He was firm in his insistence that Iran had to totally abandon its nuclear programme.
That would take further negotiations, however, and later in his conversation he said he was “not too much in the mood to negotiate now”.
Iran should have taken the deal he offered before the Israeli strikes began - a point he again emphasised in a Truth Social post after Air Force One landed in Washington.
Trump is now back at the White House where he said he will be meeting with his Security Council this morning.
What happens next is still very much in doubt.
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