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United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that it was too late for Iran to pursue negotiations, despite indications from Tehran that it remained open to dialogue.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Their air defence, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said, ‘Too Late!’”
Trump’s comments came two days after he had signalled a willingness to engage in discussions, as joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran continued.
Addressing reporters at the White House during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump claimed that the strikes had inflicted widespread damage.
“Just about everything’s been knocked out,” he said.
He further alleged that Iran had been preparing to launch an attack before the US and Israeli action, contradicting earlier remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had suggested that Israel initiated the conflict.
“I think they were going to attack first, and I didn’t want that to happen. So, if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,” Trump said.
Responding to concerns about potential consequences of the military operation, Trump said the worst-case scenario would be the emergence of a new leader similar to Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
“I guess the worst case would be we do this, and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person,” he said. “That could happen. We don’t want that to happen.”
Trump also asserted that two waves of strikes had killed individuals previously regarded as potential successors.
“Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports,” he said.
