“It’s Too Late To Negotiate,I May Or May Not Strike Iran” – Trump
President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a veiled but forceful warning to Iran, suggesting the United States may take direct military action amid the ongoing Israel-Iran war.
Speaking to reporters during the installation of a new flag pole on the South Lawn of the White House, Trump was asked if the U.S. was preparing to strike Iranian nuclear sites. His response was characteristically cryptic but assertive.
“You don’t seriously think I’m going to answer that question,” Trump said when asked directly about a strike. “I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do. But I can tell you that Iran’s got a lot of trouble.
“They want to negotiate, and I say, why didn’t you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction?”
The president’s remarks came just a day after he convened his national security team in the Situation Room, signaling deepening U.S. engagement as the Iran-Israel conflict enters its second week.
The situation has escalated sharply following Israel’s preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets, prompting a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones in response.
“Iran has had bad intentions. For 40 years they’ve said ‘death to America, death to Israel’ they were schoolyard bullies. Now, they’re not bullies anymore,” Trump declared. “But we’ll see what happens, ” Trump told reporters at the White House.
He revealed that Iranian officials had reached out recently and suggested talks, even proposing to visit the White House, a move Trump dismissed as “too late,” though he acknowledged the proposal as “courageous.”
“They suggested coming to the White House that’s not easy for them. But I said it’s very late to be talking. There’s a big difference between now and a week ago,” Trump said.
Iran must surrender, Blow up its Nuclear Facilities
Trump also reiterated his call for “unconditional surrender” from Iran, a term he emphasized both in person and in a social media post earlier this week. He appeared to double down on the threat during Wednesday’s interaction:
“It’s very simple. Unconditional surrender means I’ve had it, and I give up or we’re going to blow up all the nuclear establishments.”
Referring to Iran’s air defenses, Trump asserted; “They are totally defenseless. They have no air defense whatsoever. And we have totally captured the air.”
LTrump also weighed in on Russia’s offer to mediate the crisis. “I spoke to [President Vladimir] Putin yesterday, and he offered to mediate,” Trump said. “I told him, ‘Do me a favor mediate Russia first, then worry about this later.’”
In a rare moment of reflection, Trump expressed some sentiment for the Iranian populace. “They are smart people, energetic, difficult but okay,” he said. “What’s happening is stupid. Just like Russia and Ukraine stupid wars that would have never happened if I was President.”
He claimed the number of casualties has been underreported. “So many people have been killed. Far more than reported. A building was destroyed and they said nobody was hurt. It’s ridiculous.”
Iran Responds: ‘Irreparable Damage’ if U.S. Strikes
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed Trump’s threats as “absurd,” stating that any U.S. military involvement would inflict “irreparable damage” on America.
“Wise individuals who know Iran never speak to this nation with the language of threats,” Khamenei said in a video address. “The Iranian nation is not one to surrender.”
An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman also warned of “all-out war” if the U.S. intervenes militarily. Iran, while suffering heavy Israeli airstrikes, maintains it will continue enriching uranium for peaceful purposes rejecting Trump’s call to abandon its nuclear program.
Escalating Death Toll, Diminishing Strikes
According to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group, at least 585 Iranians have been killed, including 239 civilians, as Israeli strikes intensified in and around Tehran. Iran has fired over 400 missiles in response, causing damage in central Israel and killing 24 people.
Despite the ongoing barrages, Israeli officials say Iran’s missile capabilities are weakening. On Wednesday, Israel eased some restrictions, including allowing limited public gatherings and office work, a sign of confidence in its military position.
Trump ended his comments with a rhetorical question: “Is there anybody here that thinks it’s okay for a hostile country to have nuclear weapons that can destroy 25 miles, maybe more?”
The world waits to see what Trump and Tehran will do next.