Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Gifford Fire Is California’s Largest Blaze This Year, Tops 82,000 Acres

17 hours ago

Wall Street Pares Gains After Fresh Economic Data; Earnings in Spotlight

18 hours ago

Israel Considers Full Gaza Takeover as More Die of Hunger

18 hours ago

US to Initially Impose ‘Small Tariff’ on Pharma Imports, Trump Says

18 hours ago

Cruz Criticizes Hochul for Wearing Headscarf at Slain Officer’s Funeral

18 hours ago

Trump Says Banks Discriminate Against His Supporters While White House Prepares Order

18 hours ago

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty in $30 Million Fraud Scheme

1 day ago

Texas Governor Vows to Replace Democrats Absent at Monday Redistricting Vote

2 days ago
Amid Tough Talk, Trump Says He Could Be Iran’s ‘Best Friend’
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
June 24, 2019

Share

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Saturday that military action against Iran was still an option for its downing of an unmanned U.S. military aircraft, but amid heightened tensions he dangled the prospect of eventually becoming an unlikely “best friend” of America’s longtime Middle Eastern adversary.

“The fact is we’re not going to have Iran have a nuclear weapon. And when they agree to that, they are going to have a wealthy country, they’re going to be so happy and I’m going to be their best friend.” — President Donald Trump
Trump also said “we very much appreciate” that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard chose not to target a U.S. spy plane carrying more than 30 people.
The president’s softer tone Saturday marked a stark contrast to the anti-Iran rhetoric he employed throughout the presidential campaign and presidency, including his use of punishing economic sanctions in an attempt to pressure Iran to give up its quest to build nuclear weapons.
“The fact is we’re not going to have Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he said as he left the White House for a weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat. “And when they agree to that, they are going to have a wealthy country, they’re going to be so happy and I’m going to be their best friend.”
“I hope that happens. I hope that happens, but it may not,” Trump said.
Another event earlier this week put a different cast on Trump’s more optimistic rhetoric. U.S. military cyber forces launched a strike against Iranian military computer systems on Thursday in response to the loss of the military drone. U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the cyberattacks, which disabled Iranian computer systems that controlled its rocket and missile launchers, had been authorized by Trump.

‘Hard to Believe’ Shoot-down of U.S. Drone Was Intentional

On Saturday, days after he said it was “hard to believe” the shoot-down of the U.S. drone was intentional, Trump did an about-face and accused Iran of “knowingly” targeting the plane. And he reiterated that he aborted a planned military strike set for Thursday after learning approximately 150 Iranians would be killed.
“Everybody was saying I’m a war monger. And now they say I’m a dove. And I think I’m neither, if you want to know the truth,” Trump told reporters. “I’m a man with common sense. And that’s what we need in this country, is common sense. But I didn’t like the idea of them knowingly shooting down an unmanned drone and then we kill 150 people.”
He added: “I don’t want to kill 150 Iranians. I don’t want to kill 150 of anything or anybody unless it’s absolutely necessary.’”
Trump’s comments came as Iran summoned the United Arab Emirates’ top envoy to Tehran to protest the neighboring Arab nation’s decision to allow the U.S. to use one of its military bases to launch the drone that Iran says entered its airspace, state media reported Saturday.
Iran issued a “strong protest” to the UAE diplomat, saying Iran does not tolerate the facilitation of foreign forces that violate its territory, the report by the official IRNA news agency said.
The U.S. said its RQ-4A Global Hawk was shot down Thursday over international waters in the Strait of Hormuz, not inside Iranian airspace.

 
The shoot-down by elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces marked the first time the Islamic Republic directly attacked the American military amid mounting tensions over Tehran’s unraveling nuclear deal with world powers.
The two countries disputed the circumstances leading up to an Iranian surface-to-air missile bringing down the drone, an unmanned aircraft with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 737 jetliner and costing over $100 million.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Slovenia Becomes First EU Nation to Ban Weapons Trade with Israel

DON'T MISS

Trump Suggests Vance Is His Likely Heir Apparent in 2028

DON'T MISS

Former Fresno City Attorney Returns to Serve as County Counsel

DON'T MISS

Trump to Host Armenia, Azerbaijan Leaders for Peace Talks on Friday, US Official Says

DON'T MISS

Two Suspects Wanted in Alleged Fresno Arson at T.J. Maxx on Shaw Avenue

DON'T MISS

‘Yes’ to Outreach, ‘No’ to Condoms. Fresno Supervisors Rein in County Holidays

DON'T MISS

Trump Declines to Say if He Supports or Opposes Potential Gaza Takeover by Israel

DON'T MISS

Fresno Three-Vehicle Crash Slows Traffic on Herndon Avenue

DON'T MISS

Trump Threatens to Take Over Washington DC’s Governance

DON'T MISS

Who’s Off to a Strong Start in Raising Money for Fresno Area School Board Races?

UP NEXT

Trump to Host Armenia, Azerbaijan Leaders for Peace Talks on Friday, US Official Says

UP NEXT

Trump Declines to Say if He Supports or Opposes Potential Gaza Takeover by Israel

UP NEXT

Marjorie Taylor Greene Asks for George Santos’ Sentence to Be Commuted

UP NEXT

Moody’s Chief Economist: Trump Policies Pushing US Toward Recession

UP NEXT

US to Initially Impose ‘Small Tariff’ on Pharma Imports, Trump Says

UP NEXT

Trump Says Banks Discriminate Against His Supporters While White House Prepares Order

UP NEXT

House Democrats Renew Effort Calling for Palestinian Statehood

UP NEXT

US DOJ to Open Grand Jury Probe Into Obama Officials, Source Says

UP NEXT

Statue of Confederate General Albert Pike to Be Reinstalled in Washington

UP NEXT

California Police Misconduct Records Now Available in Public Database

Trump to Host Armenia, Azerbaijan Leaders for Peace Talks on Friday, US Official Says

9 hours ago

Two Suspects Wanted in Alleged Fresno Arson at T.J. Maxx on Shaw Avenue

9 hours ago

‘Yes’ to Outreach, ‘No’ to Condoms. Fresno Supervisors Rein in County Holidays

10 hours ago

Trump Declines to Say if He Supports or Opposes Potential Gaza Takeover by Israel

11 hours ago

Fresno Three-Vehicle Crash Slows Traffic on Herndon Avenue

11 hours ago

Trump Threatens to Take Over Washington DC’s Governance

12 hours ago

Who’s Off to a Strong Start in Raising Money for Fresno Area School Board Races?

12 hours ago

Two Chinese Nationals in California Accused of Illegally Shipping Nvidia AI Chips to China

12 hours ago

Senators Ask US to Probe Data Security Issues With DeepSeek

12 hours ago

Marjorie Taylor Greene Asks for George Santos’ Sentence to Be Commuted

12 hours ago

Slovenia Becomes First EU Nation to Ban Weapons Trade with Israel

Slovenia announced it will ban all weapons trade with Israel over the war in Gaza, becoming the first European Union country to impose such ...

8 hours ago

A view of the site of Thursday's Israeli strike that damaged and destroyed residential buildings, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp, in Gaza City, July 4, 2025. (Reuters/Mahmoud Issa)
8 hours ago

Slovenia Becomes First EU Nation to Ban Weapons Trade with Israel

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance take part in ceremonies in commemoration of the Memorial Day holiday, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., May 26, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Trump Suggests Vance Is His Likely Heir Apparent in 2028

9 hours ago

Former Fresno City Attorney Returns to Serve as County Counsel

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters ahed of boarding Marine One to depart for New Jersey, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 1, 2025. (Reuters)
9 hours ago

Trump to Host Armenia, Azerbaijan Leaders for Peace Talks on Friday, US Official Says

Two suspects are being sought in Fresno after allegedly starting a fire on July 15, 2025, at 2097 W. Shaw Avenue, and Valley Crime Stoppers is asking for anonymous tips. (Valley Crime Stoppers)
9 hours ago

Two Suspects Wanted in Alleged Fresno Arson at T.J. Maxx on Shaw Avenue

Garry Bredefeld Pride Parade
10 hours ago

‘Yes’ to Outreach, ‘No’ to Condoms. Fresno Supervisors Rein in County Holidays

President Donald Trump shouts to reporters as he walks on the roof of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 5, 2025. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)
11 hours ago

Trump Declines to Say if He Supports or Opposes Potential Gaza Takeover by Israel

A three-vehicle crash on Herndon Avenue in Fresno prompted police to block off the area Tuesday, August 5, 2025, after one car was spun around, though no injuries were reported. (GV Wire)
11 hours ago

Fresno Three-Vehicle Crash Slows Traffic on Herndon Avenue

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend