US President Donald Trump delivered a message to Iran on Wednesday, urging it to secure a deal as soon as possible.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump told Tehran to “get smart soon” amid a diplomatic stalemate as Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed and the US maintains a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
“Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!” Trump wrote, without elaborating what this deal would entail.
His message was accompanied by an AI-generated photo of himself holding a machine gun and wearing aviator sunglasses with a text reading “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY,” alongside an image of the American flag.
After talks in Pakistan stalled, Iran proposed a three-phased plan, with the first phase requiring the US and Israel to end the war and provide guarantees not to start it again.
The second phase handles the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting US naval blockade, while the third phase includes negotiations over other issues, such as Iran’s nuclear program, enriched uranium stockpiles and support for regional proxies.
However, Trump appeared dissatisfied with the new proposal as he wants to deal with the nuclear issue from the outset, insisting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing US officials, Trump would extend the naval blockade on Iran to pressure Tehran to capitulate to his demands. The US President views the economic pressure on Iran as less risky than resuming military operations or withdrawing from the conflict.
Meanwhile, Pakistani mediators expect Iran to submit a revised proposal in the next few days to end the war, CNN reported citing sources.
