United States President Donald Trump has dramatically shifted the stakes of the ongoing Middle East crisis, declaring that he has no deal for Iran except unconditional surrender.
Speaking via his Truth Social Post on Friday as joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes entered their seventh day, the President made it clear that the only path to a ceasefire is an unconditional surrender by Iran.
The statement comes at a critical juncture in the week-long war. Following reports that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had signaled an openness to third-party mediation, Trump abruptly closed the door on conventional diplomacy.
“After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” Trump wrote. “IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).” Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump also said on Friday that the U.S. was “quietly, but seamlessly” moving thousands of people out of the Middle East as Operation Epic Fury continued for a seventh day.
“We are moving thousands of people out of various Countries throughout the Middle East. It is being done quietly, but seamlessly,” Trump wrote Friday. “The State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, is doing a great job!”
The State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, is doing a great job!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The State Department has urged Americans in need of assistance getting out of the Middle East to call its 24/7 hotline at +1-202-501-4444.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces launched its 15th wave of large strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in locations including Tehran and Isfahan. It released new video showing Israeli fighter jets dismantling the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s underground military bunker beneath the Iranian regime’s leadership compound in Tehran.
Iran has also continued retaliatory attacks across the Middle East against at least 13 countries. Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have signaled a tougher military posture and are considering possible action to stop Iranian missile and drone attacks.
