WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran had reached out in a bid to initiate negotiations amid its escalating conflict with Israel — but suggested the opportunity may have passed.
Speaking during a brief press interaction on the South Lawn of the White House, Trump said Tehran had shown willingness to send officials to Washington for discussions on its nuclear programme, but added, “It’s very late to be talking.” The remarks came just before a private meeting with Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir, against the backdrop of a volatile regional crisis.
“I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump told reporters when asked about the possibility of U.S. airstrikes on Iran. “I’ve had it. My patience is gone. I’m calling for their unconditional surrender.”
While he acknowledged Iran’s outreach for negotiations, Trump also doubled down on recent threats, declaring that he could “blow up all the nuclear stuff that’s all over the place” if Iran continued its aggressive posture. He insisted, however, that “nothing is too late” for diplomacy.
Trump Dismisses Mediation, Backs Israel
Trump said he speaks daily with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel’s military offensive. “Keep going,” was Trump’s message to Netanyahu, according to his statement.
He rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to mediate the crisis, quipping, “Mediate your own war first,” in reference to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Trump’s position marks a shift from his earlier efforts to broker a deal with Iran to replace the 2015 nuclear accord he withdrew from in 2018. In recent days, he has issued increasingly bellicose statements, branding Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei an “easy target” and reiterating demands for Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.”
Iran Denies Request for Talks
Iranian officials swiftly denied seeking talks with Washington. “No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House,” said Iran’s mission to the UN in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “The only thing more despicable than [Trump’s] lies is his cowardly threat to ‘take out’ Iran’s Supreme Leader.”
Earlier in the day, Ayatollah Khamenei warned the U.S. and Israel of “irreparable damage” if military provocations continue. In a nationally televised message, Khamenei condemned Israel’s recent air raids as a “grave mistake” and vowed that Iran would respond with full force if provoked further.
“The Zionist regime will face consequences. We will never accept imposed peace or war,” Khamenei said.
Escalating Conflict: Hundreds Dead
The conflict, now in its sixth day, has already claimed hundreds of lives. A Washington-based human rights group reported at least 585 people killed and over 1,300 injured in Israeli airstrikes across Iran, including in Tehran and Karaj. Israel, in turn, reported at least 24 fatalities and over 800 wounded in retaliatory Iranian missile attacks.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that newly developed Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles were used in recent strikes. According to the IRGC, the missile successfully penetrated Israeli air defences and struck key installations.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued on Wednesday, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant confirming that the headquarters of Iran’s internal security service in Tehran had been targeted. The Iranian Red Crescent reported nearby damage but no direct strike on its facility.
U.S. Military Prepared to Act
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Pentagon is ready to execute any directive from the President. While declining to confirm specific plans, he said U.S. forces had been placed on high alert and additional fighter jets deployed to the region.
“We are prepared to act decisively if called upon,” Hegseth said.
Trump later asserted that the U.S. had “complete and total control” of Iranian airspace and hinted at knowledge of Khamenei’s location. “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding… He’s safe, for now,” he posted on social media.
Russia Warns of Fallout
Russian officials issued stark warnings against any potential U.S. military involvement. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said such a move could “radically destabilise” the Middle East. Russian intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin also described the situation between Iran and Israel as “critical.”
As diplomatic efforts falter and the spectre of broader war looms, analysts warn that any miscalculation could trigger a devastating regional conflict involving multiple global powers.
The world now watches as Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv teeter on the brink of a major escalation — one that could redefine the balance of power in the Middle East for years to come.
