‘They’re strong, they’re proud’: Trump on why Iran has yet to agreed to a deal

US president Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran has yet to agree to a deal with Washington aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, attributing the delay to the resolve and pride of the country’s leadership. Trump suggested that Tehran would ultimately have to make concessions despite its reluctance.“They’re strong, they’re proud, there are things they never thought they’d be doing that they’re going to have to do. They’ve got no choice, and it takes a little while,” Trump said. Trump argued that Iran had been able to act without facing sufficient consequences for decades, saying previous US administrations and other countries should have addressed the issue much earlier.“You’re talking about 47 years of getting away with whatever they wanted,” Trump added. “This should’ve been done long ago. This should’ve been done by other presidents or other countries.”Sunday marked 100 days since the outbreak of a conflict that US president Donald Trump had predicted would end “very fast.”Yet, despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 8, tensions remain unresolved. The Strait of Hormuz continues to be largely closed, sporadic exchanges of fire persist, and multiple rounds of negotiations have broken down without producing a lasting settlement.Preliminary figures show that at least 3,593 people have been confirmed killed in Lebanon, 3,468 in Iran and 29 in Gulf states since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran. Iranian attacks have also killed 26 people in Israel and 13 US soldiers.Since the conflict began, hundreds of ships have also remained stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. Ship-tracking data shows that 607 vessels crossed the strategic waterway between February 28 and May 31, averaging nearly seven transits a day, compared with about 100 daily crossings before the war, as cited by Al Jazeera.Oil prices have nearly doubled over the past three months amid the conflict. The International Energy Agency (IEA), which monitors global energy markets, said the disruption represents the largest energy shock on record.