Washington: US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Washington had intentionally avoided targeting Iran's military, citing historical lessons from previous conflicts such as the Iraq war. He emphasized that the US "left the military alone," despite conducting strikes against other elements of the Iranian leadership.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump elaborated on this strategy in an interview with Fox News, where he mentioned that past mistakes involved dismantling a country's institutions and armed forces, which hindered the ability to rebuild for decades. He specifically referenced Iraq as an example of a failed US approach, describing it as a "foolish" endeavor.

Trump reiterated his claim that Iran would have acquired nuclear weapons if the US had not intervened by striking Iranian nuclear facilities with B-2 bombers last June. He expressed no urgency in finalizing a deal with Tehran, asserting that rushing could compromise the quality of the agreement.

The President outlined a critical condition for any agreement: that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. He claimed that this was a point of agreement, although Iranian officials have yet to confirm such a clause in any potential deal. Trump conveyed confidence that progress was being made towards a favorable outcome, while also suggesting alternative measures if negotiations did not yield the desired results.