Trump: 'I don't care' if Iran doesn't return to negotiations
Donald Trump stated that he does not care whether Iran returns to negotiations with the US following the weekend talks in Pakistan, which concluded without an agreement.
"I don’t care if they come back or not," Trump told reporters on Sunday at Joint Base Andrews military base in Maryland upon his return from Florida.
"If they don’t come back, I’m fine."
Further details include Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV, whom he described as "weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy," asserting that the pontiff is harming the Catholic Church.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that it was only due to his presidency that the US-born Leo became pope.
"I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!"
"Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me…
Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!"
Trump’s remarks followed the pope’s denunciation of the "delusion of omnipotence" as a driving force behind the US-Israel war in Iran, urging political leaders to cease hostilities and pursue peace negotiations.
On Saturday, as the US-Iran talks commenced amid a fragile ceasefire, Pope Leo presided over an evening prayer service at St Peter’s Basilica, according to the Associated Press.
Although the pope did not mention the US or Trump by name during his prayer, his tone and message appeared directed at Trump and US officials, who have emphasized US military superiority and justified the war in religious terms.
Speaking to reporters in Maryland shortly after his social media post, Trump said:
"I don’t think he’s doing a very good job,"
adding,
"I’m not a fan of Pope Leo."
Opening summary
Welcome to ’s ongoing coverage of the Middle East crisis and its implications for the broader region, the global community, and the world economy.
Key developments include:
Trump announced that the US Navy would initiate a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and intercept every vessel in international waters that has paid a toll to Iran. In an extensive post on his Truth Social platform, the president declared that the US would begin "BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz."
In a separate post, Trump accused Iran of "knowingly failing" to fulfill its promise to keep the strait open, causing "anxiety" and "pain" for numerous countries worldwide.
US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed it would commence the blockade on Monday morning.
"Centcom forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10am ET [1400 GMT], in accordance with the president’s proclamation."
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a warning that "approaching military vessels to the strait of Hormuz is considered a violation of the ceasefire."
Following Trump’s blockade announcement, oil prices surged in early market trading. US crude oil prices rose 8% to $104.24 per barrel, while Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, increased 7% to $102.29. Australia’s share market experienced a sharp decline on Monday morning.
Reports from the Wall Street Journal, citing officials and individuals familiar with the situation, indicate that Trump and his advisers are considering resuming limited military strikes in Iran alongside the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s harsh criticism of Pope Leo XIV included labeling him as "weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy," and asserting that the pope is damaging the Catholic Church. On Truth Social, Trump stated,
"Leo should get his act together as Pope."
This attack followed Pope Leo’s condemnation of the "delusion of omnipotence" as a factor fueling the US-Israel war in Iran and his call for political leaders to halt conflict and negotiate peace.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had not been invited to participate in any US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and expressed a desire for continued negotiations between the US and Iran.
Trump reiterated his threat to destroy Iran’s power plants and other civilian energy infrastructure if no agreement is reached to end the conflict, which he initiated alongside Israel in what many view as an illegal and unprovoked attack.
"I could take out Iran in one day,"
he told Fox News on Sunday.
Trump also stated that the US does not rely on the strait for oil supply.
"We don’t get our oil from there. We have so much oil,"
he said.
"We have boats pouring up to the United States … We don’t need the strait."
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Tehran delegation in the US talks, responded to Trump’s threats by asserting they would have no impact on the Iranian people.
"If you fight, we will fight, and if you come forward with logic, we will deal with logic. We will not bow to any threats."
He later taunted Trump on X, posting:
"Enjoy the current pump figures. With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas."
Donald Trump talks to reporters on the White House south lawn before boarding a US helicopter at the weekend. Photograph: Andrew Leyden/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
