
President Donald Trump declared Friday that the United States will not reach any agreement with Iran unless the country first agrees to unconditional surrender, issuing the warning in a message posted on Truth Social as the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues.
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Trump went on to outline what he said could follow such a surrender, suggesting that once a new leadership acceptable to the United States and its allies is chosen, efforts could begin to rebuild Iran.
“After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” he went on.
“IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. ‘MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).’ Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The president’s demand for Tehran’s capitulation came one day after he also said he wants a direct role in determining who will succeed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the initial wave of U.S.-Israeli strikes that launched the war last Saturday.
Trump dismissed speculation that Khamenei’s 56-year-old son, Mojtaba, could take over the leadership role, calling him a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable” option.
In a phone interview Friday with CNN, Trump said he would not necessarily oppose another religious leader assuming the position previously held by Khamenei.
“I may be, yeah, I mean, it depends on who the person is,” he told anchor Dana Bash on the phone. “I don’t mind religious leaders. I deal with a lot of religious leaders and they are fantastic.”
Trump also indicated that he would not insist that Iran become a democracy as part of any leadership transition.
“There has to be a leader that’s going be fair and just. Do a great job. Treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East — they’re all our partners,” he told Bash.
At present, Iran is reportedly being governed by a three-man council that includes two hardline figures along with the country’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Throughout the week, Trump has repeatedly pointed to the recent leadership change in Venezuela as a model for what could eventually happen in Iran, after U.S. commandos captured socialist leader Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3 and the White House backed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who agreed to release political prisoners and cooperate with American oil companies.
The president has acknowledged, however, that replicating that scenario in Iran may be more complicated, noting that more than four dozen senior officials have already been killed during the war.
Still, Trump expressed confidence that the strategy will succeed.
“It’s gonna work very easily. It’s going to work like did in Venezuela. We have a wonderful leader there. She’s doing a fantastic job. And it’s going to work Iike in Venezuela.”
Trump also voiced support Thursday for reported plans by Iranian Kurdish forces to enter Iran from Iraq in hopes of sparking a broader uprising against the regime in Tehran.
“I think it’s wonderful that they would want to do that,” the president told Reuters. “I’d be all for it.”
{Matzav.com}