'Regime growing weaker by the day … Iranian people won't take it much longer'

'Venezuela not yet ready for elections, but expect it soon'

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US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday (local time). [AP]
US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday (local time). [AP]

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday (local time) that the resumed American strikes on Iran "won't go on too long."

Trump made the remarks at the White House in response to reporters asking how long the renewed airstrikes against Iran would continue.

"I don't know how much longer they can take it. But it doesn't matter how long it is," he said.

He then claimed that Iran "was trying to rebuild their radar systems, their missile systems, their mine-dropping systems," adding that Tehran had also been working to develop rockets capable of deploying mines.

"We took it out because it was almost complete," Trump said. "Last night's attack was very powerful. We are ready to do it again whenever we want."

US forces resumed airstrikes on Iran on Sunday — within a month of a previous campaign — and carried out additional strikes on Tuesday. Iran has attempted retaliatory attacks against US forces, ratcheting up military tensions across the Middle East.

Asked whether he would deploy the CIA to arm Iranian citizens — following a post on his Truth Social account Wednesday in which he wrote, "When will the Iranian people rise up?" — Trump declined to answer directly. "I'd love to tell you, but it's not appropriate to say," he said.

He nonetheless said the Iranian government was "getting weaker by the day," adding, "I think the people won't take it much longer. I asked that question because it's time."

On the day the strikes began, Trump had urged the Iranian people to rise up, saying, "When we're done, take over your government. This is probably your one chance in many generations."

Trump also renewed his criticism of Canada, which has been locked in a tariff dispute with the United States, arguing that major Canadian banks operate freely in the US — their largest source of revenue — while American banks are barred from entering Canada.

"That's symbolic of the way they treat us," he added.

Trump also argued that he had used tariffs to correct an imbalance in which US private jet maker Gulfstream had been unable to obtain Canadian government certification for nine years, while Canada's Bombardier operated freely in the American market.

Trump had in fact threatened on Jan. 29 to impose 50 percent tariffs on Canadian aircraft imports, citing Canada's effective ban on sales of certain Gulfstream jets through its refusal to certify them.

Asked when Venezuela — where former President Nicolás Maduro was ousted — would hold elections, Trump said the country was "not ready yet" but added, "I expect them to do so soon."


mokiya@heraldcorp.com