Lead

US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran's leadership, saying he is not going to be "much more patient" and that Tehran can either make a deal or "get annihilated." The remarks came in an interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity, as reported by the Jerusalem Post and Reuters. Trump reiterated that the United States will not allow Iran to develop or obtain a nuclear weapon, adding that "any sane person would make a deal, but they might be crazy."

Coverage Comparison

Trump's comments were covered by multiple outlets, each emphasizing different aspects of his statements. ABC Australia focused on Trump's confidence in winning the war, quoting him as saying, "We'll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise," and his assertion that he does not need help from Beijing to end the conflict. Al Jazeera highlighted Trump's threat to strike Iran again if progress on a ceasefire is not made within "days," and reported that Xi Jinping had promised not to send weapons to Iran. The Jerusalem Post, in two separate reports, emphasized Trump's impatience with Iran's leadership and his claim that Iran has refused to acknowledge multiple deals already agreed to.

Key Claims

Trump, speaking after his three-day visit to China, said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him that Beijing would not send weapons to Iran during the ongoing war. "President Xi has promised me that he's not sending any weapons to Iran. That's a beautiful promise. I take him at his word," Trump told reporters, as reported by Al Jazeera. He added that Xi wants the Strait of Hormuz open "like me."

Trump also said that he and Xi agreed that Iran should not have nuclear weapons, a claim carried by the Jerusalem Post. He reiterated that the US will not allow Iran to develop or obtain a nuclear weapon because "they would use it."

According to the Jerusalem Post, Trump said that the US and Iran had made multiple deals, which Iran then refused to acknowledge. "Every time they make a deal, the next day it's like we didn't have that conversation," Trump said. He claimed the deal included Iran giving the US its enriched uranium, and that only the US and China have the required equipment to extract the uranium from beneath rubble caused by US-Israeli strikes. Trump also said the US has the site under surveillance, with nine cameras focused on it from the US Space Force.

Trump attributed the troubles with negotiation to internal conflicts and uncertainties within the Iranian leadership. "In a way, we've eliminated so many leaders that it's almost, I'm trying to figure out who the hell we are dealing with," Trump said, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. He has repeatedly expressed this sentiment, telling reporters there is "tremendous discord" and that "the leadership is very disjointed."

Al Jazeera reported that Iran submitted a revised 14-point peace plan to end the war, but there has been little progress since a tenuous ceasefire took effect in early April. Trump said the US may strike Iran again if progress on a ceasefire is not made within days, according to Al Jazeera.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium must be "taken out" before the war against the nation can be considered over, as reported by ABC Australia.

The Jerusalem Post, citing a New York Times report, said the US and Israel are preparing for joint attacks on Iran to resume as soon as next week. The report, citing two Middle East officials who wished to remain anonymous, said the preparations are the most significant since a Pakistani-brokered ceasefire was established in early April. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the US "has a plan to escalate, if necessary."

The same Jerusalem Post report noted that Iranian Parliament National Security Spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei threatened that the country may boost uranium enrichment to 90% if attacks resume.