Trump Says Iran Secretly Seeks Deal as IMF Warns of Conflict Fallout

US President Donald Trump stated that Iran is secretly seeking a diplomatic agreement despite its public hardline posture, characterizing Tehran’s current approach as “playing games.” In recent remarks addressing the ongoing tensions, Trump asserted that Iranian military capabilities have been significantly degraded and no longer match their previous operational capacity.

The president also highlighted the impact of American economic measures, noting that US sanctions on Iran are unprecedented and have generated severe financial pressure alongside high inflation within the country. Despite these assessments, Trump emphasized that Washington does not seek an escalation of hostilities and continues to support a diplomatic resolution to the standoff.

Separately, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva cautioned about the broader regional and global implications of a potential military confrontation. Georgieva warned that any conflict involving Iran would trigger prolonged economic and humanitarian consequences, with disruptions likely to persist for three to four months or longer. Her remarks underscored institutional concerns regarding the stability of markets and regional infrastructure should hostilities break out, highlighting the interconnected nature of global trade and humanitarian networks.

The statements from both the White House and the IMF reflect ongoing international scrutiny of Iran’s strategic posture and the potential economic ramifications of further escalation in the region.