Trump says Iran ‘begging’ for deal, warns of more strikes
While talking about the possibility of negotiations, Trump said, “They (Iran) are begging to make a deal, not me. They are begging to make a deal, and anyone who sees what’s going on there will understand why they want to make a deal.”
At the Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump also called on Iran to reach an agreement to end the ongoing US and Israeli bombing campaign or face further military action. “They, Iran, now have a chance to permanently abandon their nuclear ambitions and embark on a new path,” he said. “We’ll see if they want to do it. If they don’t, we’ll be their worst nightmare. In the meantime, we’ll keep blowing them up.”
Also Read: Iranian official says US offer to end war is ‘one-sided’ and the door to diplomacy is still open
Trump added that Iranian leaders are skilled negotiators but insisted that the United States is not the party seeking negotiations. “They say we don’t talk to them… They’re not stupid. They’re very smart in a way. I say they’re terrible fighters, but they’re great negotiators. They’re begging to reach an agreement,” he said.
He suggested that any deal must address key U.S. concerns, including Iran’s military objectives and the security of shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has said he is seeking a deal that would reopen the strategic waterway and restrict Tehran’s military capabilities.
Trump also acknowledged that the negotiations may not be successful. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to pull this off,” he said. “I don’t know if we’re willing to do that.” The remarks come as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensify after almost a month of military conflict and diplomatic pressure. Trump argued that Iran should have agreed to negotiations earlier. “They should have done this four weeks ago. They should have done it two years ago. Or they should have done it when we first took office,” he said.
Iran rejects US offer but leaves room for negotiations
However, Iran opposed Washington’s rhetoric. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the US proposal aimed at ending the war was “one-sided and unfair”, demanding that Tehran give up basic defense capabilities in exchange for vague commitments to lift sanctions.
Also Read: Why is Pakistan joining efforts to stop the war in Iran?
Although he rejected the terms, the official stated that diplomacy was not ruled out and said negotiations could still continue if the United States adopts a more balanced approach. Mediators, including Pakistan and Türkiye, are trying to bridge differences between the two sides.
The war has escalated since February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iranian targets as part of a broader campaign aimed at curbing Iran’s missile program and nuclear ambitions.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that military action has severely weakened Iran, saying the country has been “militarily destroyed” and suggesting that Tehran now has no choice but to consider negotiations.
At the same time, both sides continue to harden their positions publicly. Iran insists it has not entered into formal talks with Washington and says any deal must respect its security interests and sovereignty.
