Donald Trump says Iran is 'begging' for deal, warns of consequences

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had been “militarily obliterated” and had “zero chance of a comeback,” while accusing its negotiators of not being serious.

“The Iranian negotiators are very different and ‘strange.’ They are begging us to make a deal… and yet they publicly state that they are only looking at our proposal. WRONG!!!” Trump wrote, warning that Tehran must act quickly “before it is too late.”

Speaking later at an event in Washington, Trump reiterated that Iranian leaders were eager to reach an agreement but were hesitant to admit it publicly.

He claimed they feared backlash from their own people as well as potential US action.

However, Iran has pushed back on these assertions. The country’s foreign minister said Tehran is reviewing a US proposal but has no intention of entering talks aimed at winding down the conflict at this stage.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Trump is aiming to end the war before May 14, when he is scheduled to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing. The meeting had earlier been postponed due to the escalating conflict.

Mounting pressure and escalation

The situation remains volatile as both diplomatic and military developments unfold simultaneously.

Reports suggest the US and its allies have expended significant military resources in the conflict, using thousands of munitions within the first few weeks.

Meanwhile, indirect talks between Washington and Tehran are said to be continuing through intermediaries, even as both sides publicly maintain differing positions.

Amid the diplomatic standoff, Israel said it had killed Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s navy, in a targeted strike.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tangsiri was responsible for operations that disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the strike sends a “clear message” to Iran’s military leadership.