Trump defends decision on Iran amid rising tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the initial results of the midterm elections to Congress. After receiving a call from Politico journalist Dasha Burns, the president joined a live broadcast and made notable statements about the voting and its results.

“Operative Information Center-OMM” reports that Trump claimed he would have won more easily if his name had been on the ballot:

“I said, think of it as if I were on the ballot, but the voters disagreed with me. In most cases, they did not like the candidates.”

The president said he was open to working with Democrats, who were close to gaining a majority in Congress. Trump recalled that he had the power to veto all bills, but stressed that he did not intend to use that authority over the next two years.

Addressing criticism that his Iran policy had hurt the election results, the U.S. leader said he would not back down: “Many people blame Iran for the rise in oil prices. But I am certain that the decision I made on Iran, in the long-term interests of our country and even the world, was absolutely right and remains right.”

Commenting on the possibility of tensions rising again in Iran, Trump said they would take the necessary steps if the right “opportunity” arose. He sharply rejected claims that nuclear weapons would be used against Iran: “I have no need for that. We have already destroyed them.”