 "President Donald Trump speaks as a flag pole is installed on the South Lawn of the White House, on Wednesday. AP")
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Iran has “reached out” and expressed a willingness to negotiate, but refused to confirm whether the US will join Israel in launching airstrikes on Iranian territory or nuclear facilities.
According to The Guardian report, speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said Iran is “in a lot of trouble” and suggested that Tehran had made overtures to come for talks, including a proposal to visit the White House.
However, he did not elaborate on the details of any such outreach.
“I said it’s very late to be talking. We may meet. There’s a big difference between now and a week ago, right? Big difference,” Trump added.
Trump said that his patience “had already run out” with Iran and repeated his call for the Islamic republic’s “unconditional surrender.”
“Next week is going to be very big, may be less than next week,” he said.
When asked directly if the US was preparing military action against Iran, the president refused to give a definitive answer, “I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
He also claimed that Iran was “totally defenceless” and lacked effective air defence capabilities, further fueling speculation about the possibility of a US military response in coordination with Israel, which has already launched strikes against Iranian targets.
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View AllAsked what he meant when he called in a social media post on Tuesday for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”, Trump again suggested that his patience had run out with Iran.
“It’s very simple - unconditional surrender. That means I’ve had it, okay? I’ve had it. I give up, no more, we go and blow up all the nuclear stuff that’s all over the place,” Trump said.
Trump compared Iran to “schoolyard bullies”, adding: “And now they’re not bullies any more, but we’ll see what happens.”
When asked if it was too late for negotiations, he said: “Nothing is too late.”
He also said that he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin who offered to mediate.
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that the US military is “prepared to execute” any decision President Trump might make on matters of war and peace, even as he declined to confirm preparations of strike options on Iran.
“If and when those decisions are made, the Department (of Defence) is prepared to execute them,” The Guardian quoted Hegseth as telling the Senate Armed Services.
President Trump’s remarks came after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Iranian nation “is not one to surrender.”
“Let the Americans know that the Iranian nation is not one to surrender, and any military intervention on their part will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage,” CNN quoted Khamenei as saying on Wednesday in a national address – only his second public comments since Israel launched its attack against Iran last week.
“Those who are wise and familiar with Iran, its people, and its history never speak to this nation in the language of threats,” he warned.
After Trump on Tuesday said Khamenei was “an easy target” for the US and Israel, he then ramped up his demands on Truth Social: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
With inputs from agencies