US President Donald Trump reportedly told G7 leaders during a meeting on Wednesday that Iran was “going to capitulate”. But 24 hours later, Iran’s new supreme leader said in his first public statement that Iran would continue to fight and retaliate against ongoing US and Israeli attacks.
“I got rid of cancer…”
Sources told Axios that Trump touted the results of Operation Epic Fury as part of a G7 call Wednesday morning.
He reportedly told allies, “I have gotten rid of the cancer that threatened us all.”
While claiming Iran was about to capitulate, Trump also suggested there were no officials left alive in Tehran with the authority to make that decision, the report said.
“No one knows who the leader is, so there’s no one to announce the surrender,” Trump said, according to two officials briefed on the call.
G7 leaders told Trump to end the war
G7 leaders held the call amid growing concerns over the growing economic impact of the US-Israeli war in Iran.
The sources told Axios that all the other leaders urged Trump to end the war quickly, stressing that the Strait of Hormuz must be secured as soon as possible.
Trump reportedly said the situation in Hormuz was improving and that commercial ships should resume operations in the area, an official briefed on the call said. At least two tankers were set on fire off the coast of Iraq that night.
Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei vows to fight
Nearly 24 hours after Trump’s call with G7 leaders, Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first statement, saying attacks on US bases in the region would continue.
According to Al Jazeera, Press TV attributed the statement to Khamenei on Thursday this week, claiming that Khamenei called for national unity and said the vital global artery of the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed to pressure on Iran’s enemies.
Armed groups in Yemen “will also do their job,” the supreme leader said, adding that other armed groups in Iraq also “want to help” the Islamic revolution, Al Jazeera reported.
Mojtaba Khamenei took over as Iran’s Supreme Leader after his father, Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran for 37 years, was killed in US-Israeli strikes in Tehran on February 28.
Donald Trump says “unconditional surrender” is when Iran…
President Trump said in the first week of March that his demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” could mean the total destruction of the regime’s military capabilities.
In a phone interview with Axios, he said, “Unconditional surrender can be when (the Iranians) announce it. But it can also be when they can’t fight anymore because they have nobody and nothing to fight.”
His statement came after he ruled out any deal with Iran. In a social media post, TRUTH earlier called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender”, saying: “There will be no deal with Iran except for UNCONDITIONAL surrender!”
Trump also suggested appointing “great and acceptable leaders” in Iran and pledged that the US and its allies would help rebuild the country and ensure it prospers after the war.
“After that, and after choosing a GREAT AND ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we and our many wonderful and very brave allies and partners will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction and make it economically bigger, better and stronger than ever before,” Trump wrote on social media.
The US President said: “IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE.” MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (WINK!). Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
