<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> has claimed </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="" title="Iran"><span>Iran</span></a><span> has sent the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="United States"><span>United States</span></a><span> an expensive gift but refused to say what it is.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US president said the "present" was related to oil and gas but did not go into any further detail.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They gave us a present, and the present arrived today," he said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-pearl-harbor-japanese-prime-minister-sane-takaichi-usa-politics-news/3503f82c-91b9-466e-b287-0d8f09c74842"><strong><span>Trump compares Iran attack to Pearl Harbor in front of Japan's PM</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money. And I'm not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But there seems to be no sign of Iran backing down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instead Iran's rhetoric against the United States is only increasing.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-iran-gift-oil-and-gas-middle-east-usa-politics-news/a8aa0c9b-666b-4323-92bf-af32bf6c7019" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The criminal American and Zionist enemies initiated a fierce war aimed at disintegrating Iran," top general Ali Abdollahi said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"By God's grace and with the heroic presence of the great and courageous Iranian nation, along with the unparalleled bids of the brave Armed Forces over the past 25 days, the enemies, primarily the US, have been forced to defeat, while the proud Iranian nation and its honorable warriors are advancing toward ultimate victory."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Abdollahi said the US was seeking a way out following its "disgraceful" defeat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jd-vance-iran-petrol-prices-worse-overseas-gas-usa-politics-news/9bf2bac5-eb01-4f07-beeb-cbb79d7c1e94"><strong><span>The comments from Trump's right-hand man that should annoy every Aussie</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump has been increasingly speaking of peace talks with Iran, though at the same time he is scaling up the US military presence in the Middle East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has also repeatedly claimed the war has been won.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Pentagon is sending another </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-25-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/a5597d7f-50d1-40b8-94fa-0cfd43b6e879" rel="" target="" title="3000 soldiers to the region"><span>3000 soldiers to the region</span></a><span>, in addition to the 2500 marines deployed earlier this week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier today Trump posted a tweet from Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offering to host the negotiations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Pakistan welcomes and fully supports ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue to end the WAR in Middle East, in the interest of peace and stability in region and beyond," Sharif said in a tweet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-kharg-island-ground-troops-invasion-of-iran-usa-news/765b7562-cb23-436c-b7fa-b8a0acd616ff"><strong><span>Trump considering ground invasion of critical Iranian island: reports</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pakistan is currently battling severe fuel shortages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It receives a higher percentage of its oil imports from the Gulf states than any other country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But so far there is little to signify that Iran is interested in backing down from the war.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Without a negotiated peace with Iran, it will be nearly impossible to secure the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-nato-cowards-middle-east-iran-strait-of-hormuz/0c7ff945-0e3d-4c1f-afb2-ccb5c8e1d5b6" rel="" target="" title="Strait of Hormuz"><span>Strait of Hormuz</span></a><span> without an invasion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="" title="Iran"><span>Iran</span></a><span> is roughly the size of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span> with a population of 93 million.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An estimated one million Iranians serve in the military, either in the regular army, paramilitary or reserves.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-iran-updates-oil-futures-trade-suspicious-betting-activity-usa-world-news/1061ef6b-5fef-401c-b469-98016ccdb9c3"><strong><span>Minutes before Trump's announcement, $800 million in trades made</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>