President Donald Trump had a short but potent two-word response for the leader of Iran after the latter said he would never surrender to the Israelis. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the pledge after the U.S. president said on Wednesday that he knew where Khamenei was located and that the Israelis controlled all of the airspace above Iran.
“What do you say to the supreme leader of Iran who says that they will not surrender?” a reporter asked. “I say good luck,” he replied, mocking the Iranian leader.
Trump on Thursday also dismissed a Wall Street Journal report claiming he had authorized military strike plans against Iran, saying the outlet “has no idea” what his intentions are. “The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Citing three anonymous sources “familiar with deliberations,” the paper reported that Trump had authorized attack plans “but was holding off on giving the final order to see if Tehran will abandon its nuclear program.”
The report—and Trump’s denial—followed a day of mounting speculation over his next move. Pressed on Wednesday about whether the U.S. was nearing a strike on Iran, Trump responded, “I can’t say that.” He added, “You don’t seriously think I’m going to answer that question? ‘Will you strike the Iranian nuclear component, and what time exactly, Sir? Sir, would you strike it? Would you please inform us so we can be there and watch?’”
“I mean, you don’t know that I’m going to do it. You don’t know. I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” he said. Trump went on to note that he was open to negotiating with Iran, saying, “It’s never too late.”
After returning from the G7 summit on Monday, amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Trump told reporters he believed Iran was “very close” to developing a nuclear weapon He has long maintained that Iran must not be allowed to obtain such a weapon and had issued a 60-day ultimatum for Tehran to agree to end its nuclear program.
That deadline expired last Thursday, one day before Israel launched its strikes. Earlier today, Trump extended his deadline with Iran for two weeks, giving Tehran what could be its final chance to negotiate an end to the conflict and a pledge to refrain from building a nuclear weapons program.
