President Donald Trump released an expanded statement Monday evening, accusing Iran's leadership of 'unbelievably two-faced' conduct for seeking talks while publicly denying them. He stated that negotiations are starting and more are planned, even as Iran claims it is only 'handling Oman.' Trump asserted that the US Navy has full control of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the blockade as a 'steel wall,' and reiterated that Iran will never obtain nuclear weapons. He warned that the only resolution is an agreement or 'total surrender.'
President Donald Trump issued an expanded statement Monday evening at 18:28 Jerusalem, warning that the only possible resolution to the standoff with Iran is either a negotiated agreement or "total surrender." The statement marks a further escalation in Trump's rhetoric, building on an earlier version in which he accused Iran's leadership of "unbelievably two-faced" conduct for seeking meetings while publicly denying any talks. The president also reiterated that the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is a "steel wall," and he repeated his pledge that "Iran will never have nuclear weapons."
The latest warning comes hours after formal talks between the US and Iran resumed Monday afternoon, as The Zioneer reported earlier. Trump had announced that morning that the talks would take place, asserting that the Iranian leadership "clearly does not want to be attacked" and claiming that a deal on the Strait of Hormuz had already been reached. By evening, the tone shifted: Trump accused Iran of hypocrisy, with the expanded statement adding the "steel wall" description. The new "total surrender" warning represents the most forceful language yet from the president.
The naval blockade, which Trump has consistently described as a "steel wall," has been a central element of the administration's pressure campaign. As The Zioneer reported on June 10, Trump characterized the maritime operation as the most successful in history, claiming that Iran is unable to pay its military. On July 3, Trump told CNBC that no ship had managed to slip through the blockade, and that the US would take part of Iran's money to buy American food for the country. The economic pressure is compounded by Iran's reported 300% inflation.
It remains unclear whether Iran will respond to the latest ultimatum. Tehran has publicly denied the existence of any talks, insisting it is only "handling Oman." The IAEA inspection issue also remains unresolved, as Trump claimed on June 23 that Iran had agreed to full inspections, while Iranian-linked channels signaled refusal. The next steps will determine whether the diplomatic track coexists with the growing military pressure or collapses entirely.
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