Tensions between the United States and Iran intensified after US President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would be “hit very hard” if the conflict continues, while insisting that Iran must accept “unconditional surrender.” Speaking to reporters, Trump said he has no fixed timeline for the war and emphasized that Washington will continue pressure for as long as necessary to achieve its objectives. The remarks came amid rising military activity in the region and growing fears of wider escalation.
Trump also stated that the United States wants to influence Iran’s future leadership, saying Washington prefers a president who would avoid confrontation and prevent the country from moving toward another conflict. According to Trump, unconditional surrender would mean Iran losing its ability to fight militarily or becoming incapable of rebuilding its armed strength. He further predicted that oil prices could temporarily rise due to the conflict but would eventually fall rapidly once the situation stabilizes.
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Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that the country’s temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on neighboring states unless those nations directly launch strikes against Iran. He also apologized to nearby countries for recent attacks and clarified that Tehran has no intention of targeting them further. However, Pezeshkian firmly rejected calls for surrender and declared that Iran would not give up its weapons under pressure from the United States or Israel.
The latest statements follow recent Iranian strikes on American military bases in neighboring countries, which Tehran described as retaliation for earlier US and Israeli attacks. Those strikes occurred after the martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and resulted in civilian casualties, further fueling tensions between the rival powers. The conflict has since entered a more aggressive phase, with both sides exchanging threats and military actions.
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In addition, Trump said deploying US ground troops to Iran would currently be a “waste of time,” arguing that Iranian forces have already suffered major losses, including significant damage to their naval capabilities. He also indicated that Washington wants to quickly remove Iran’s existing leadership structure and replace it with figures acceptable to the international community. However, he declined to reveal any specific names he might support for the role.
Heavy strikes were reported in Tehran after Israel announced it was targeting what it called “regime infrastructure” in a new phase of the ongoing war launched with US support. The conflict has also expanded into nearby waters, where a US submarine reportedly sank an Iranian naval ship off the coast of Sri Lanka, highlighting the growing geographical spread of the confrontation.