President Donald Trump reacted sharply to a reporter’s inquiry about the potential deployment of U.S. ground troops in Iran, amidst ongoing negotiations between the White House and Iranian officials. The question came as thousands of U.S. Marines have been dispatched to the Middle East over the past week. Notably, more than 4,000 Marines from the USS Tripoli and USS Boxer are en route towards Iran. When asked on Monday morning, prior to boarding Air Force One, about the possibility of ground troops entering Iran, President Trump dismissed the question as “crazy.”

The reporter queried, “It’s been reported that there are Marines who left California, left San Diego last week. Why are they headed there now?” President Trump responded firmly, “Well, let me ask you this. If you were in my position and I asked you that question, do you really believe I’d give you that? It’s a crazy question.” He has consistently refrained from divulging details about potential military operations, citing concerns over compromising the operational security of such plans.

Additionally, President Trump noted that discussions with Iranian officials have commenced in an effort to end the conflict, a statement that Iranian authorities have denied. Should these talks fail to yield cooperation from Iran, Trump stated that U.S. forces would continue military actions unabated. On Monday morning, he indicated via social media that the U.S. would delay attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure as both nations pursue a diplomatic agreement.

Within the hour, Iranian officials swatted down those claims, saying the President and his team were not in contact with their officials. Later in the morning, Trump doubled down. ‘I didn’t call, they called; they want to make a deal.’ Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in talks with Iranian officials on Sunday, the President said.

‘We have had very, very strong talks. We’ll see where they lead. We have major points of agreement… They went, I would say, perfectly. I would say that if they carry through with that, it’ll end that problem, that conflict.’ The US is demanding in the negotiations that Iran give up its ambitions to create a nuclear weapon. ‘We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon — not even close to it — low key on the missiles, we want to see peace in the Middle East. We want the nuclear dust… I think we’re going to get that.’

The President added that Iran had agreed ‘not have nuclear weapons any more,’ though there has not been reporting indicating they have actually created one. However, the administration has yet to get in contact with the country’s new ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the former leader who was reportedly injured in US strikes. ‘We have not heard from the son,’ Trump told reporters.