WASHINGTON/DUBAI (Reuters) – President Donald Trump has reiterated his call for Iran to surrender, saying otherwise, there would be more problems for Tehran.
He said that Iran is seeking negotiations while describing the country as “totally defenseless” amid ongoing military exchanges.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said Tehran is in “a lot of trouble” and that “they want to negotiate,” though he lamented that Iran “should have negotiated” earlier.
He said that he was uncertain about whether the US would strike Iran but emphasised the shifting dynamics in the region.
“They don’t have air defense — none. They’re totally defenceless,” Trump added.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said his country will not accept US President Donald Trump’s call for an unconditional surrender in a statement read by a television presenter.
“This nation will never surrender to imposition from anyone,” said Khamenei. “America should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage.”
In his first remarks since Friday, when he delivered a speech broadcast on state media after Israel began bombarding Iran, Khamenei said peace or war could not be imposed on the Islamic Republic.
“Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language because the Iranian nation will not surrender,” he said.
“The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage,” he added.
Earlier, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said his country will show no mercy towards Israel’s rulers, hours after US President Donald Trump demanded Tehran’s “unconditional surrender”.
“We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,” Khamenei posted on X.
