US President Donald Trump said in a 28-minute phone interview with The New York Times that his decision to launch an attack on Iran in the month of Esfand, followed by the imposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East in favor of the United States. According to the New York Times report, Trump made these remarks on his 80th birthday, while background sounds of family members preparing for a dinner event could be heard, indicating ongoing preparations for an evening ceremony. In the same remarks, he praised the roles of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying they played an important part in facilitating the agreement. In contrast, Trump issued sharp criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that his actions had nearly derailed the final stages of the agreement process. Speaking about Netanyahu, Trump said: “He is a very difficult person and should really thank us a lot, because if Iran had possessed nuclear weapons, Israel would not have survived even two hours.”
