Trump won’t share Iran military plans with Gulf allies amid tensions

President Donald Trump said the United States would not share its military plans with its Gulf allies during negotiations with Iran, even if a large American naval presence moves into the region.

Trump, speaking to Jacqui Heinrich, Fox News Channel’s senior White House correspondent, responded to reports that Gulf allies remain in the dark about potential U.S. intervention plans involving Iran.

It comes as Trump is reportedly weighing his options for a possible military strike against Iran, amid widespread protests and violent crackdowns inside the country.

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President Donald Trump said the United States cannot share its military plans with its Gulf allies during negotiations with Iran because Saudi Arabia restricts access to airspace. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

”Well, we can’t tell them the plan. If I told them about the plan, it would be almost as bad as telling you — it might be worse, actually,” Trump said. “But, look, the plan is this [Iran is] talk to us, and we’ll see if we can do anything. Otherwise, we’ll see what happens. … We have a large fleet there, larger than the one we had – and still have, in fact – in Venezuela.

Trump announced earlier this week that a “massive Armada was heading toward Iran,” led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

A senior Gulf official told Fox News that Saudi Arabia would not allow the United States to use its airspace or bases for an attack. A senior Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) government official told Fox News that “the United States has not shared any goals or plans” regarding Iran with its Gulf allies, despite recent high-level Saudi meetings in Washington seeking clarification.

Gulf allies have said Iran frequently seeks negotiations, but they remain skeptical that talks will lead to a deal.

“Well, that’s true, but they’re negotiating, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said in response to that assessment.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sits next to a senior Iranian military official. (Getty Images)

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“You know, the last time they negotiated, we had to pull out their nuclear, it didn’t work, you know. Then we pulled it out in a different way, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump added.

Trump also addressed government funding and the risk of a shutdown, saying Democrats would take responsibility if negotiations failed.

“I think it’s going well. We had a big GDP. I lost a point and a half because of the last [shutdown]”, Trump said. “So you’ll see what happens. I think the Democrats don’t want that to happen. It gives them a very bad image, yes, but it’s not a good thing for the country. So I hope enough people use their heads.”

Persian Gulf shipping dwindles as Trump positions military against Iran. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Asked about Democrats’ demands that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents remove masks as part of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding negotiations, Trump refused to commit, pointing to recent comments about Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and law enforcement efforts.

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“I don’t want to comment on that yet because now is not the time to,” Trump said. “But I would have a comment. You saw my statement about Kristi yesterday. You know where my attitude is. We are at a low point in the history of crime. Since 1900 – recorded history.