Trump: “Iran sent us a huge gift… tied to oil and gas”

Claims “regime change achieved and the war is over”

U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 24th (local time) that he had received a “very big gift” from Iran’s negotiating counterpart.

Speaking to reporters at the White House during the swearing-in ceremony for incoming Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Trump said, “The gift they sent us arrived today,” adding, “It’s a very big gift worth an enormous amount. I’ll let you know what it is.”

Asked what the “gift” referred to, he said it was “related to oil and gas,” adding, “What it showed me is that we’re dealing with the right people.”

He also repeatedly stressed that Iran had given up nuclear weapons. “They agreed that there should no longer be any nuclear weapons (in Iran) and that they will not enrich (uranium),” Trump said, adding, “We are in the best position in the negotiations.”

Trump said that he, along with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, are involved in the talks.

As for the identity of Iran’s negotiating counterpart, he said, “A new group has come in,” describing them as “completely different people from the previous leadership that caused all kinds of problems.”

Citing the elimination of key figures in the Iranian regime, including its former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump emphasized, “We killed all of their leadership. We actually changed the regime.” He added, “They will be revealed soon.”

On the timing of the end of the war, he claimed, “We won this war and the war is already over,” adding, “Only the fake news wants to keep it going.”

Asked whether he wanted Gulf regional allies to join the military operation against Iran, he said “a little,” but added, “NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) wants it more.”

Oh Se-seong, Hankyung.com reporter sesung@hankyung.com