Trump urges Iran to negotiate end to war or face further assassinations
Trump Urges Iran to Negotiate End to War or Face Further Assassinations
Escalating Threats Amid Intensified Military Actions
Donald Trump has called on Iranian leaders to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, warning that failure to do so could result in additional attacks on key figures. This latest message came on Thursday, following reports that Israel had eliminated the Revolutionary Guards’ naval commander, Alireza Tangsiri, and several other senior officers in an operation targeting Bandar Abbas. The strikes also targeted military installations near Isfahan, a region central to Iran’s airbase and strategic assets, as well as a nuclear site previously struck by the US during a 12-day campaign in June.
Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes and Defensive Measures
Despite Trump’s assertions, Iran has rejected claims of being in a desperate position to negotiate, continuing its own offensive actions across the Middle East. Explosions were recorded in Tel Aviv, Modi’in, and Jerusalem as Israel’s air defenses intercepted incoming missiles. In the Gulf, Iranian attacks on maritime targets were also thwarted. Trump emphasized that Iran’s military might be “lousy,” while praising its diplomatic skills, and reiterated that the war he initiated last month had already been secured.
“They now have the chance to permanently abandon their nuclear ambitions and join a new path forward. If they don’t, we’re their worst nightmare. In the meantime, we’ll just keep blowing them away.”
Later, Trump added: “They want to make a deal. The reason they want to make a deal is they have just been beat to shit.” He cited Tehran’s decision to allow 10 oil tankers, including Pakistan-flagged vessels, to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a sign of goodwill. However, the initial conflict began with an Israeli airstrike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leading to the deaths of numerous Iranian officials and political leaders such as Ali Larijani. The new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is believed to have sustained serious injuries in the attack.
Strategic Impact and Iran’s Military Capabilities
Adm Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, stated that Tangsiri’s elimination signaled Iran’s navy toward “irreversible decline.” Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, argued that Tangsiri was directly responsible for the disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had previously blocked the strait, causing oil prices to spike and endangering global economic stability. Although the US claims to have dismantled most of Iran’s naval forces, Tehran still possesses smaller vessels and anti-ship missiles that could reseal the waterway.
International Reactions and Mediation Efforts
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, criticized the US for inconsistency, accusing it of supporting Israel’s Gaza blockade while condemning Iran’s defensive actions. On social media, he remarked: “The US backed Israel’s Gaza blockade … yet condemns Iran for defending itself in the strait of Hormuz. Double standard: Israel’s crimes are OK while Iran’s defense against aggressors is condemned.” Pakistan, acting as a key mediator, reportedly convinced Washington to protect Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a long-serving parliament speaker, from Israeli targeting. Ghalibaf is considered the primary negotiator with whom Trump has been indirectly discussing terms for an end to the conflict.
