Trump Urges Iran to Negotiate as Tensions Escalate After Israeli Strikes

As hostilities intensify, Trump’s remarks signify a critical juncture in U.S.-Iran relations and the future of nuclear talks.

In his first public remarks following the recent Israeli strikes on Iran, President Donald Trump asserted that Tehran has brought destruction upon itself due to its refusal to accept an earlier nuclear deal proposal. This proposal, discussed between Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff just weeks prior, would have compelled Iran to surrender all uranium enrichment capabilities.

On Friday, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his frustration, stating, “I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal.” He claimed that despite numerous opportunities presented to Iran, they consistently failed to reach an agreement. Just days before the Israeli airstrikes, which targeted key Iranian military figures, Trump had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay any offensive actions to facilitate diplomatic efforts.

Trump's recent comments included ominous predictions about the consequences for Iranian hardliners opposed to negotiation, stating, “They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!” Historically, Trump’s administration withdrew from a multilateral nuclear agreement in 2018 that had initially curbed Iran’s nuclear ambitions, branding it as "one-sided."

The ongoing turmoil has led to uncertainty over the planned sixth round of negotiations in Oman, which officials from Iran have since canceled following the airstrikes. Trump’s social media message sought to reestablish pressure on the Iranian leadership, warning that future attacks would be escalated further. “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left,” he implored, urging them to act swiftly. In a familiar call to action, he concluded, “JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”