U.S. President Discusses Conditions for Renewed Military Action Against Iran

The president stated that a deal unfavorable to the United States would be the threshold for resuming offensive military operations against Iran. "Well, a deal that wasn't going to be good for us is the line, ultimately," the president said during the interview. "I'm playing it out, and we're going to see." The interview is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. EST on Saturday.

A ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been in place since early April. Talks between the two sides have stalled since then, though the president recently indicated the sides may be close to an agreement. The president said Iran's military losses give the United States leverage in negotiations, particularly on demands for a nuclear-disarmed Iran.

"They're crafty, but in the end, we have all the cards because we've defeated them militarily," the president said.

The president described Iran's navy and air force as fully destroyed, stating every Iranian naval vessel had been sunk. "They have no Navy. Every ship — they have 159 ships, every one of them are at the bottom of the sea — every single one," the president said.

A Fox News poll found opposition to U.S. military action in Iran rose to 60 percent, up from 55 percent in April. The same poll showed 86 percent of Americans view higher gas prices linked to the Strait of Hormuz closure as a problem. The president noted the two-year gap between presidential and midterm elections creates a narrow window for military decisions, but said that factor did not alter his approach.