WASHINGTON, July 6 - President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that the United States will either reach a deal with Iran or "finish the job," restating a willingness to use military force if diplomacy fails.
Trump spoke after a weekend funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an event the president said did not show signs of Iranian weakness. Instead, he said, Iranians appeared defiant, united and determined about what comes next.
Diplomacy and the ceasefire
Indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran concluded last week without any public indication of progress toward a lasting settlement. Those talks followed a 60-day ceasefire that was intended to create political space for negotiations after U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28 triggered the conflict.
Trump framed the situation in stark terms when addressing reporters in the Oval Office. "Were either going to make a deal or were going to finish the job. OK. And it wont be tough to finish the job. Id rather make a deal, because I dont want to affect 91 million people," he said.
In the same remarks, the president outlined potential military targets, saying, "We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply.... They dont have any money now. We havent given them any money."
Post-funeral posture in Tehran
Trumps comments came after the funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei. According to the president, rather than appearing weakened by the war that began after the strikes on February 28, Iranians at the funeral seemed to display defiance and unity, and a determination to influence future developments.
Context and implications
The ceasefire had been designed to provide a diplomatic window aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal, but the indirect talks ended without a public sign of headway. The president expressed a preference for a negotiated settlement, while explicitly reserving the option of military measures should diplomacy not deliver an acceptable outcome.
Key points
- President Trump said the U.S. will either reach a deal with Iran or "finish the job," repeating a threat of military action.
- Indirect U.S.-Iran talks concluded last week with no public sign of progress, despite a 60-day ceasefire intended to allow diplomacy to proceed.
- The funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was described as showing Iranian defiance and unity rather than weakness.
Risks and uncertainties
- Potential for renewed military action if diplomacy fails - this poses direct risks to infrastructure and energy systems referenced by the president.
- Diplomatic efforts have so far produced no public breakthroughs following the 60-day ceasefire, leaving outcomes uncertain.
- Public defiance in Iran after the funeral could complicate mediation or negotiation efforts and influence regional stability.