President Donald Trump said Monday night that the US will defeat Iran with full force, but that friendly talks are currently underway. Speaking at a rally in Michigan, Trump added that Iran is pleading for the siege to end, according to reports from Israeli media.
President Donald Trump added a new element to his Iran messaging Monday night, stating at a Michigan rally that "friendly talks are underway" even as he vowed to defeat Iran "with full force." The remark, reported by Israeli media, came minutes after earlier quotes from the same rally in which Trump said Iran had pleaded to end the siege and warned against nuclear weapons — first reported by The Zioneer at 22:40 Jerusalem.
The earlier report from the same evening (Mon 22:40 Jerusalem) quoted Trump describing negotiations as "very friendly" and claiming the US had "dismantled Iran's shape." The new statement goes further by explicitly stating that talks are currently in progress. Both reports rely on Israeli media accounts of the rally; no independent confirmation from US or Iranian sources has been provided.
The dual-track messaging is consistent with Trump's public statements over recent weeks. As The Zioneer has reported, on June 8 Trump wrote on Truth Social that both Israel and Iran want an immediate ceasefire and that the siege would remain until a final deal. On June 9 he said the US expected clarity within 48 hours. On June 11 he stated Iran "wants a deal more than I do." On June 20 he attacked Iran, saying after military defeat they want to be friends. And on July 6 he said "We will defeat Iran, whether pleasantly or some other way." The latest remarks fit this pattern of combining threats with diplomatic overtures.
What remains unclear is the nature and status of the "friendly talks" Trump referenced. He did not specify whether they are direct US-Iran negotiations or mediated discussions, nor did he provide a timeline. The claim that Iran is "begging" for relief is unverified and comes solely from the president. No Iranian official has confirmed any such plea.
3 developments
- DevelopingTrump: 'We will defeat Iran, whether pleasantly or some other way'
- DevelopingTrump confirms meeting with Iran, says US 'pretty much destroyed' its military
- StrongTrump says the US is disabling Iran's missile capability, eyeing a fair deal
- DevelopingTrump says US is suppressing Iran's offensive capabilities, sees possibility of a deal
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