Trump Issues Ultimatum on Iran Nuclear Standoff
President Donald Trump declared on Monday that the United States would either secure a diplomatic agreement with Iran or be compelled to 'finish the job,' reviving his explicit threat of military action. The statement came as Tehran projected unity and defiance following the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after ringing the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq, Trump said: 'We're either going to make a deal or we're going to finish the job. OK. And it won't be tough to finish the job. I'd rather make a deal, because I don't want to affect 91 million people.'
Failed Talks and Ceasefire
Indirect US-Iran talks concluded last week without any public indication of progress toward a lasting peace, despite a 60-day ceasefire that was intended to create space for diplomacy. The ceasefire followed US and Israeli strikes on February 28 that triggered the current conflict.
Trump emphasized the ease of a military campaign, stating: 'We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply.... They don't have any money now. We haven't given them any money.'
Iranian Defiance After Khamenei's Funeral
The president's remarks came after the weekend funeral of Supreme Leader Khamenei, where Iranians appeared defiant and united rather than weakened by the war. The 60-day ceasefire was intended by Washington to revive diplomacy aimed at stopping Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal.
Trump's ultimatum underscores the high stakes of the standoff, with the US pressing for a deal while simultaneously threatening overwhelming force.
