United States President Donald Trump on Friday said that the only way to end the war in the Middle East is for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, as tensions in the region grow and efforts at diplomacy remain uncertain.
The US and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran in late February, citing the need to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and, in Trump’s words, “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
In retaliation, Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel, including strikes near Tel Aviv, and targeted US military bases and strategic sites in neighboring Gulf states that host American forces.
Attacks were reported toward Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added that the US and its allies would help Tehran in rebuilding its economy if the country selected an “acceptable” leader that would replace the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the US-Israel attacks.
Trump’s comments came a day before Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is not open to negotiations.
In an interview with NBC News, Araghchi said that the country is not asking for a ceasefire and has no plans for negotiations with the US and Israel, stressing that previous talks collapsed because the US launched attacks in the middle of the negotiations.
Tehran ‘prepared’ for US invasion
As Trump eyes interest in sending troops on Iranian soil, Araghchi said Tehran is ready for such scenarios and expressed confidence that its forces could confront any American troops that enter its territory.
“No, we are waiting for them,” he said when asked whether Iran fears a US invasion, adding that such a move would be “a big disaster for them.”
He stressed that Iran has prepared its military for a range of scenarios after learning lessons from past conflicts and has improved its capabilities accordingly.
The foreign minister also clarified that when he said Iran was “waiting” for the US forces, he did not mean Tehran wants the war to continue, but that the country has already prepared itself to confront any scenarios.
Strait of Hormuz ‘not closed’
Araghchi said that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil shipments, remains open and Tehran currently has no plans to close it.
“We have not closed it. It is the ships and tankers who don’t cross the strait because they are concerned of being hit,” the foreign minister said in the interview.
He added that while Tehran has no intention of closing it right now, the government will reassess the situation as the war continues.
Despite this statement, countries outside the region are taking precautions against potential inflation, as the Middle East conflict has driven oil prices higher.
Brent crude jumped over 9% on Friday, reaching more than USD93 a barrel, marking its highest price since autumn 2023, according to the BBC.
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Allied nations call for de-escalation
As the conflict in the Middle East intensifies, allied nations have voiced concern and called for immediate de-escalation.
The United Kingdom, a close US ally, confirmed it will not take part in the war.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that Great Britain will not join the US-Israel strikes on Iran and emphasized that diplomatic talks remain the best path forward.
“The basis for our decision is the collective self-defense of longstanding friends and allies and protecting British lives,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tehran’s two most influential diplomatic partners, China and Russia, condemned the US-Israel strikes on Iran as a violation of international law.
The two nations have requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the conflict and seek a resolution, according to Al Jazeera.
In an interview with NBC News, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said that China and Russia have been supporting Iran in “political” ways, though he did not provide details on whether the countries are offering direct assistance in the ongoing conflict.
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