President Donald Trump said Monday that he could dismantle Iran's entire infrastructure in an instant and prefers reaching a negotiated deal, according to Israeli media reports (N12, i24NEWS). Trump emphasized he is not seeking regime change in Tehran but is prepared to 'finish the job' if talks fail. The statements follow a rapid-fire sequence of threats and diplomatic overtures earlier today, building on weeks of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions over Iran's nuclear program and regional activity.
President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stark ultimatum to Tehran while reiterating his preference for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear crisis. In a series of remarks reported by Israeli media (N12, i24NEWS), Trump stated: 'The Iranians know I can dismantle all their power plants by the afternoon—but I prefer a deal.' He added that the US is 'close to a deal with Iran—we will win one way or another,' while clarifying he is not seeking regime change in Iran.
Trump's statements follow a pivotal escalation in his public messaging earlier in the day. At 17:20 Monday, he was first reported threatening to 'wipe out all their power plants by afternoon,' before adding by 17:28 that he could 'dismantle all their infrastructure in a moment and they know it.' By 17:30, Trump emphasized he prefers concluding a deal but warned: 'if not—we finish the job.'
The president's comments build on weeks of maximum-pressure brinkmanship that The Zioneer has tracked since at least June 8. On June 10–11, the US conducted multiple Tomahawk missile strikes near Tehran, prompting Trump to warn of 'very hard' daily strikes and infrastructure targeting. By June 14, reports emerged that Trump was preparing an immediate lift of the naval blockade on Iran to avert a broader conflagration. Monday's mixed signals—simultaneously threatening annihilation while urging diplomacy—suggest the administration is calibrating leverage ahead of what Trump described as imminent negotiations.
No official response has yet been issued from Tehran. The remarks come as the US maintains a naval blockade in the Persian Gulf and continues pressure operations against Iran's nuclear program.
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