US President Donald Trump has delivered a stern warning to Iran while signalling that diplomatic engagement remains possible. Speaking in a televised interview, he said Iran “wants to talk badly,” indicating that Tehran is eager for negotiations, but stressed that any move to disrupt global energy flows would trigger a severe military response from Washington.
Trump directed sharp criticism at Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed power after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership transition and cast doubt on Mojtaba’s ability to stabilise the country, saying he did not believe the new leader “can live in peace.” His remarks come amid heightened tensions following recent US strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory actions by Tehran across the region.
Highlighting US military operations, Trump praised the results of Operation Epic Fury, the campaign launched on February 28 against Iranian military infrastructure. He described the operation’s early outcomes as exceeding expectations and claimed that initial strikes had significantly degraded Iran’s missile capabilities, making the conflict less intense than it might otherwise have been. He also noted surprise at Iran’s decision to strike countries that were not directly involved in hostilities.
Despite the strong rhetoric, Trump left the door open for diplomacy. He said negotiations with Tehran remain possible if acceptable terms are presented, suggesting that Washington is willing to pursue talks alongside its hardline military posture.
At the same time, Trump issued a forceful warning over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil shipments. He stated that if Iran attempts to block tanker traffic through the passage, the United States would retaliate with strikes “twenty times harder” than previous actions. He added that such retaliation could target assets in a way that would make it extremely difficult for Iran to recover militarily. However, he also expressed hope that escalation could be avoided and that the vital shipping route would remain open.
Taken together, Trump’s statements reflect a dual-track approach that combines the possibility of negotiations with the threat of overwhelming force as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to intensify.
