US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” could mean the complete 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!”
He also proposed the appointment of “great and acceptable leaders” in Iran and pledged that the US and its allies would help rebuild the country and make it prosperous 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, to 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”
What does “unconditional surrender” mean?
Why Trump offered his own explanation for the phrase, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News that “unconditional surrender” means Trump has decided “that Iran can no longer pose a threat to the U.S. and our troops in the Middle East.”
According to Axios, Leavitt also listed US goals as destroying Iran’s navy, eliminating its ballistic missile threat, ensuring it cannot acquire a nuclear weapon and weakening its regional proxies.
Mediation efforts
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that “some countries have started mediation efforts” to stop the war.
“Let’s be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region, but we do not hesitate to defend the dignity and sovereignty of our nation. Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and fueled this conflict,” he wrote.
