Berlin – Now US President Donald Trump is significantly increasing the pressure: He is demanding"unconditional surrender" from Iran and threatening Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (86) with death.
On his personal platform"Truth Social," Trump wrote on Tuesday: "We know exactly where the so-called Supreme Leader is hiding." Trump: "He's an easy target, but he's safe—we won't take him out (kill him!), at least not yet." An open threat! But the president continued, saying they don't want to fire missiles at civilians or American soldiers. He then warned the Iranian dictator:"Our patience is running out."
He also announced that he would convene the US Security Council on Tuesday. The council advises the president on foreign and security policy issues.
So, is the US about to launch a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities? An unusual statement by the US government on Iran and an even more unusual online post by Donald Trump had already fueled speculation.
The White House had released a statement emphasizing that US President Trump had long warned of the danger of an Iranian nuclear bomb.
The headline of the statement reads:"President Trump has always been clear: Iran must not have nuclear weapons."
▶︎ Among them are 15 quotes from his current term in office and 40 quotes from the years 2011 to 2024, which are intended to demonstrate Trump's clear rejection of Iran's nuclear armament.
“Signs that the White House is preparing a US intervention”
Indeed, Trump repeatedly emphasized that the mullah regime should never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. But why is the White House publishing such an extraordinary collection of quotes?
American foreign policy advisor Ian Bremmer (Eurasia Group) immediately wrote on X that this was"a clear indication that US attacks are imminent." Shashank Joshi, defense expert at the British magazine"Economist," took a similar view: "This is possibly a sign that the White House is preparing the ground for US intervention."
▶︎ Meaning: With the collection of quotes, Trump wants to show his voters that a military intervention in Iran would not be a breach of election promises in order to avoid political upheaval.
The US president is under pressure within his party. Some of his supporters favor a military strike against Iran's nuclear program. Others reject military interventions in general, argue objectively against a military strike in this case, or sometimes indulge in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
Trump publishes text messages from ambassador
Then Trump followed up on"Truth Social." He published a text message he received from his ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. Huckabee is a devout Christian, a core member of Israel's allies, and maintains a close relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
▶︎ The text message also contains possible allusions to a US strike against Iran."No president in my lifetime has been in a position like yours. Not since Truman in 1945," Huckabee wrote to Trump. He was referring to US President Harry S. Truman (1945-1953), who ended World War II and made the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan."You did not choose this moment. This moment chose YOU!" was Huckabee's final, fateful message to Trump.
Two figures who are otherwise considered to be part of his close circle, but who are critical of an attack on the mullah regime, expressed their strong criticism.
In response to the constant criticism of former Fox presenter Tucker Carlson (56), who warns against a strike on Iran with absurd arguments, Trump declared: Someone should explain to the"crazy" Carlson that Iran should not be allowed to get a nuclear bomb.
The US President even rebuked his own intelligence coordinator, Tulsi Gabbard (44), who had declared in March that Iran was not currently building a nuclear bomb. Regarding the highly controversial politician's comments, Trump said:"I don't care what she said." He added that Iran was "very close" to acquiring nuclear weapons.
