Trump Talks Iran, China and Russia: Inside His First 100 Days
By Al-Ahed News, TIME Magazine
In an expansive conversation with TIME magazine, US President Donald Trump opened up about his approach to key foreign policy issues, economic strategies and his vision for global diplomacy. With a firm stance on Iran, tariffs and the war in Ukraine, Trump reflected on the first 100 days of his presidency and his belief in direct negotiations over military intervention.
Iran and "the Deal"
Asked whether he would be open to meeting with Iran’s leadership—either the president or Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei—Trump gave a simple answer: “Sure.”
When pressed on reports that he blocked “Israel” from attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump pushed back, saying, “That’s not right.” While he denied outright obstruction, he acknowledged that he had not made it easy for the entity to go forward. “I think we can make a deal without the attack,” he said, though he left the door open for military action if diplomacy fails: “It’s possible we’ll have to attack because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”
Tariffs as Strategy
Trump spoke extensively about trade, particularly tariffs, which he views not just as an economic tool but as a weapon of negotiation. When asked if keeping high tariffs in place a year from now would constitute victory, he replied bluntly: “Total victory.”
The reasoning, he said, lies in revenue. “The country will be making a fortune,” he claimed, pointing to practices in China, India and Brazil, which he says have long exploited the US with steep import taxes. “There are no tariffs if they make their product here,” Trump emphasized, painting a picture of a revived American manufacturing sector. “You’re going to see car plants going at a level that you’ve never seen before.”
Despite promises from his trade adviser Peter Navarro that 90 trade deals would be inked in 90 days, none have been publicly announced. But Trump insisted the deals are real—“I’ve made 200 deals,” he said—though details remain vague. “We are a department store,” he explained. “I set the price. They can pay it or they don’t have to do business with the United States.”
On China and Xi Jinping
Trump confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had called him but said he had no plans to initiate a call himself. “Nope,” he said flatly. “If people want to… well, we all want to make deals,” he added. Trump likened the US to “a giant, beautiful store” that the world wants access to—but on his terms.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently described the current US-China trade status as “unsustainable.” Trump didn’t disagree, but he redirected blame to past administrations. “You can’t let them make a trillion dollars from us,” he said, referring to America’s trade deficit with China. “When you have a trade deficit of $2 trillion, I consider that loss.”
Ukraine and Putin
Trump also revisited one of his boldest campaign promises: ending the war in Ukraine. “I said that figuratively… it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended,” he clarified. While acknowledging the conflict has lasted for years, Trump blamed the Biden administration for its outbreak, calling it “Biden’s war” and asserting that “it would have never happened” if he had been in office.
Asked whether peace was possible while Russian President Vladimir Putin remains in power, Trump said yes—but only with him leading negotiations. “I think Putin would rather do it a different way. I think he’d rather go and take the whole thing,” Trump remarked. “Because of me… we’re getting very close to a deal.”
He also expressed confidence that peace is possible with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky still in power, and indicated that Ukraine should abandon hopes of joining NATO—a move he believes helped trigger the war. On the issue of Crimea, Trump was unequivocal: “Crimea will stay with Russia,” he said. “Zelensky understands that, and everybody understands that.”
When asked whether the other four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia might also remain under Russian control as part of a final agreement, Trump pivoted, suggesting that only Crimea was up for discussion. “This was given by Obama,” he added, arguing that the annexation occurred under former President Barack Obama, not him.
No Broader Talks with Russia—Yet
While Trump said there were no current negotiations with Russia on other strategic issues like nuclear weapons, he suggested that a successful Ukraine deal could open the door to broader engagement. “I can see us doing business with Ukraine and with Russia as a country,” he said.
A Narrative of Control
Throughout the interview, Trump consistently returned to the metaphor of the US as a massive, powerful store—with himself as the owner and manager. “Everybody wants to come in and take from us,” he said. But under his administration, he insists, they’ll have to pay to play. “I own the store, and I set prices.”
As Trump prepares for what could be a defining period of his second term, his message remains clear: only he, through strength and leverage, can rewrite the rules of global power.
In summary, Trump’s interview underscores his "America First" foreign policy agenda, focusing on strong economic policies, direct diplomacy and a commitment to ending conflicts swiftly and on favorable terms for the US.
