In a significant development, President Donald Trump on Thursday called on Iran to negotiate an end to the ongoing U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign targeting the country. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump emphasized that Iran has the opportunity to permanently abandon its nuclear ambitions and pursue a new path forward.
He warned that if Iran refuses to engage in a deal, the United States would continue its military operations, describing the U.S. as Iran’s “worst nightmare.” Trump stated, “In the meantime, we’ll just keep blowing them away,” underscoring the administration’s readiness to escalate strikes if necessary.
Earlier on Thursday, a senior Iranian official criticized Washington’s proposal to end nearly four weeks of conflict as “one-sided and unfair,” though diplomatic efforts remain ongoing. Trump claimed that Iranian representatives were in communication with the U.S. and portrayed them as eager to reach an agreement, a characterization Tehran has denied.
Notably, Trump referred to Iranian officials as “great negotiators” and outlined his goal of securing a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and curtail Tehran’s military ambitions. However, he expressed uncertainty about the likelihood of successfully brokering such an agreement, stating, “I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that. I don’t know if we’re willing to do that.” This statement leaves the future of negotiations and conflict resolution uncertain.
