President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is weighing whether the United States will join Israel in launching military strikes on Iran, as tensions in the Middle East escalate. He added that his patience with Tehran has “run out” and claimed Iranian officials are seeking to open negotiations to avoid further conflict.
Speaking during a flagpole installation ceremony at the White House, Trump told reporters that Iran had approached the U.S. with a proposal to begin talks aimed at ending Israel’s ongoing offensive. However, he suggested the outreach may have come too late.
“They want to negotiate. They’ve even suggested coming to the White House,” Trump said. “That’s bold, I’ll give them that—but it’s not easy. Still, I told them it might be too late.”
Asked directly whether he would authorize U.S. airstrikes, Trump replied, “I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do. But I can tell you this: Iran is in serious trouble.”
Trump has previously favored diplomacy in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program, aiming to craft a new agreement after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term. However, with Israel’s military campaign against Iran now in its sixth day, the president appears increasingly aligned with U.S. ally Israel and is considering military involvement.
“I’ve Had It”
On Tuesday, Trump posted a series of aggressive messages on social media, calling Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an “easy target,” and demanding Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.”
When asked Wednesday to explain the phrase, Trump said, “Two simple words—unconditional surrender. That means I’ve had it. No more talk. We’ll destroy all of their nuclear sites if we have to.”
The president also reaffirmed his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has continued the offensive despite Iranian missile counterattacks.
“I speak to him every day,” Trump said. “He’s a good man. I told him to keep going.”
Rejection of Putin’s Mediation Offer
Trump also dismissed an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to mediate the conflict between Israel and Iran.
“He offered to help mediate,” Trump said. “I told him, ‘Do me a favor, go mediate your own war in Ukraine first.’”
Meanwhile, Iran denied Trump’s claim that it had sought to send officials to Washington for talks. “No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations said in a post on X. “The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to ‘take out’ Iran’s Supreme Leader.”
