Trump releases AI image of US drone destroying Iranian ships after announcing progress in talks | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on social media on Sunday showing a US-flagged drone attacking two Iranian-flagged ships, just hours after announcing that a potential deal between Washington and Tehran had been “largely negotiated”.
The image, shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform, was captioned with a single word: “Adios.”
Image shows drone attack on Iranian ships
The digitally created footage showed a drone launching an attack on two Iranian-flagged ships.
Smoke and flames could be seen billowing from the vessels, while figures appeared to have been thrown into the ocean after apparent explosions.
The post quickly drew attention online as it came shortly after Trump suggested the United States and Iran were nearing a diplomatic breakthrough aimed at easing months of tension and conflict in the Middle East.
Trump has previously announced progress in negotiations with Iran
On Saturday, Trump wrote on social media that “the deal has been largely negotiated” between the United States, Iran and several regional countries.
The proposed deal reportedly includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and speeding up broader talks on regional security and Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump also said discussions were continuing on the “final aspects and details” of the deal.
Trump says Iran talks ‘proper and constructive’, vows blockade will last until deal is signed
Trump said talks between Washington and Tehran were progressing in a “constructive manner”, insisting that pressure on Iran would continue until a final nuclear deal was finalized and signed.
In a lengthy statement posted on Truth Social, Trump sharply criticized the 2015 Iran nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama, calling it “one of the worst deals the United States has ever made.”
Trump Attacks Obama-era Iran Deal
Trump argued that the earlier deal paved the way for Iran to eventually acquire nuclear weapons.
“One of the worst deals our country has ever entered into was the Iran nuclear deal that was put forward and signed by Barack Hussein Obama and rank-and-file amateurs in the Obama administration,” Trump wrote.
“It was a direct path to Iran developing a nuclear weapon.”
During his first term, Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran.
Trump says current negotiations are ‘exact opposite’
The said the US president the ongoing negotiations led by his administration are fundamentally different from the Obama-era approach.
“Not so with the deal the Trump administration is currently negotiating with Iran – in fact, THE EXACT OPPOSITE!” he said.
Trump added that discussions were proceeding steadily and that he had instructed negotiators not to rush the process.
“Negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner and I have informed my representatives not to rush a deal while it is on our side,” he wrote.
The blockade will continue until the agreement is signed
Trump emphasized that pressure on Tehran will continue until a formal agreement is finalized, verified and signed by both sides.
“The embargo will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, confirmed and signed,” Trump said.
“Both sides need to take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!”
The comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions after months of conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Trump says relations with Iran ‘more productive’
Despite keeping up the pressure, Trump indicated that relations between Washington and Tehran had improved during the talks.
“Our relationship with Iran is becoming much more professional and productive,” he wrote.
At the same time, he reiterated the United States’ red line regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“However, they must understand that they cannot develop or acquire a nuclear weapon or bomb.”
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes and denies that it is seeking nuclear weapons.
Trump praises Middle East support, mentions Abraham Accords
Trump also thanked Middle Eastern countries for supporting diplomatic efforts and suggested that regional cooperation could be further expanded through the Abraham Accords.
“I would like to thank all the countries of the Middle East for their support and cooperation thus far,” Trump wrote.
He added that regional ties would be “further strengthened and strengthened” through participation in the Abraham Accords, and the possibility of Iran’s future inclusion was even raised.
“Who knows, maybe even the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join in!” Trump said.
The Abraham Accords, brokered during Trump’s first presidency, created diplomatic normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Trump assured Netanyahu of Iran’s tough stance amid emerging peace deal
Trump has assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington will maintain its demand to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program as a condition of any final deal with Tehran, according to a senior Israeli official.
The development comes as it ramps up diplomatic efforts around a possible US-Iran deal aimed at ending months of conflict in the Middle East and reopening the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.
Trump insists on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program
A senior Israeli official told AFP that Trump reaffirmed his tough stance during a phone call with Netanyahu on Saturday night.
“President Trump has made it clear that he will remain steadfast in negotiations on his longstanding demand to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and remove all enriched uranium from Iranian soil, and that he will not sign a final deal without those conditions,” the official said.
The official added that Washington was informing Israel of talks on a memorandum of understanding aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and starting negotiations toward a broader settlement of the remaining disputes.
Netanyahu emphasizes Israel’s freedom to act
During the conversation, Netanyahu reportedly emphasized that Israel would continue to maintain its military freedom of action throughout the region, including Lebanon.
“In a conversation with President Trump last night, the Prime Minister emphasized that Israel would maintain its freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon, and President Trump reiterated and endorsed that principle,” an Israeli political source told Reuters.
Israel continues military operations in southern Lebanon despite the April 17 ceasefire. Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes in the south on Saturday, while the Lebanese army said one strike hit an army barracks and wounded a soldier.
Lebanon’s Civil Defense Authority also said an Israeli strike destroyed its regional facility in Nabatieh on Sunday.
Rubio says a deal could come within hours
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted during a visit to India that a deal may be close.
“I think there may be a possibility that the world will get some good news in the next few hours,” Rubio told reporters.
Rubio added that the emerging deal could create “a world that no longer has to fear or worry about Iran’s nuclear weapons.”
Trump also wrote on social media that the deal was “largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran and various other countries.”
Read also | US-Iran peace deal: Tehran to give up enriched uranium stockpile
Iran warns of renewed war
Despite continued diplomacy, senior Iranian officials have warned that Tehran remains prepared for renewed conflict if hostilities resume.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned Washington against resuming military action.
“Our armed forces have rebuilt themselves during the ceasefire period in such a way that if Trump commits another folly and starts a war again, it will certainly be overwhelming and bitter for the United States than on the first day of the war,” Ghalibaf said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, said Tehran remains willing to reassure the international community about its nuclear intentions.
“We are still ready to assure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons,” Pezeshkian told state television.
Regional diplomacy is intensifying
Regional leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, along with representatives from Turkey and Pakistan, reportedly joined the call with Trump to discuss the proposed deal.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad hoped to host the next round of US-Iran talks soon.
Sharif added that Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, who visited Tehran on Friday and Saturday, was also involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace in the region.
If finalized, the proposed deal could mark a major turnaround in the Middle East conflict and help reduce tensions that have roiled regional security and global energy markets for months.
Read also | The Middle East is grappling with the dark side of Trump’s Iran deal
