US President Donald Trump ramped up the rhetoric against Iran on Tuesday, threatening that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is “an easy target” and demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as tensions in the region escalate.
Seizing the social media platform, Trump said US intelligence has identified the exact location of Khamenei but clarified that the US would not attack him “at least not yet.”
“We know where exactly the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but safe there, We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not now,” Trump wrote. He sent this post followed by a brash requirement: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
The remarks followed Trump’s early return from the G7 summit in Canada to chair high-level sessions at the White House. The emergency return indicates increased worry in the US administration regarding the widening war between Iran and Israel, and perhaps American involvement.
While Trump has before asserted the US would not be militarily involved, his new comments are a change of tone, implying that Washington is getting ready for more overt action. He also made a veiled suggestion of US military supremacy by stating, “we” have “complete and total control of the skies over Iran” a remark widely interpreted as supporting Israeli air strikes with US-produced equipment.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized his desire for a lasting resolution rather than a temporary ceasefire. “I want a real end, not a ceasefire. I’m not in too much of a mood to negotiate,” he told reporters.
While again insisting Iran might still accept a nuclear agreement offered before the recent Israeli attacks, Trump threatened that American patience is running thin. “We don’t want missiles fired at civilians, or American troops,” he stated. “Our patience is wearing thin.”
