On Tuesday, United States President Donald Trump declared that the window for Iran to engage in diplomatic negotiations has closed, despite indications from Tehran that they are interested in reaching out.
In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump expressed his dismissal of the situation, writing: “Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said ‘Too Late!’”
These comments represent a shift in tone from just two days ago when he had suggested he might be open to discussions while joint U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran continued.
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During a White House meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump spoke to the press about the severity of the strikes, asserting that the damage was widespread.
He stated, “Just about everything’s been knocked out,” to emphasize the impact of the military action.
Furthermore, Trump claimed that Iran was on the verge of launching its own offensive before the U.S. and Israel intervened.
This statement appears to conflict with earlier remarks from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had implied that Israel was the one to start the conflict.
Regarding his role in the timing of the strikes, Trump noted: “I think they were going to attack first, and I didn’t want that to happen. So, if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,”
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The President also touched upon his worries regarding the eventual aftermath of the operation, specifically who might rise to power next.
He remarked that the most unfavorable outcome would be the ascent of a leader who mirrors the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Specifically, he said: “I guess the worst case would be, we do this, and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person,” adding, “That could happen. We don’t want that to happen.”
Trump also indicated that the military strikes have already eliminated many individuals who were expected to step into leadership roles.
He told reporters, “Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports,” suggesting that the pool of potential successors has been significantly thinned by the two waves of attacks.
