The Trump administration has signaled a definitive shift in its approach to Iran, characterizing the current standoff as a final ultimatum for the regime. While the President asserts he is not frustrated, he maintains that the Iranian leadership must either accept what he calls a very good deal or face the potential total liberation of their people. This maximum pressure campaign, often compared to an anaconda slowly squeezing its target, has reportedly decimated Iran’s military capabilities, leaving the regime in what the administration describes as the ultimate position with no choice but to negotiate. Despite reports from some media outlets suggesting Iranian resilience, the President claims their defenses are virtually non-existent, setting the stage for further intensified military action.
Donald Trump's interview with Fox News
Lawrence: Mr. President, it feels like we’ve reached an ultimatum. You’ve given them time, you’ve gone back and forth, but now it’s either take the deal you offered in good faith or everything goes. Is that what we are seeing, the potential liberation of the people?
President Trump: That could happen if we want to keep going. The deal I’ve offered is a very good deal, it could be the greatest in history, but the problem is how it’s being covered . I’m not frustrated, but right now, Iran is in the ultimate position where they have no choice but to negotiate.
Brian: Your strategy reminds me of an anaconda, you’re talking to them, but you’re slowly squeezing them to death. But if they are so close to the brink, what is the actual state of their military?
President Trump: They are finished, but the fake news won’t tell you that. They have no navy, no air force, and we are flying planes over the middle of Tehran without them even knowing. We’ve knocked out their radar and their anti-aircraft systems. We think they have less than 20% of their missile capability left, and most of their launchers are gone. Their drone capacity is way down and their attacks have become very minor.
Ainsley: It is amazing that keeping their enriched uranium is worth all of these strikes to them. If they just gave that up, the bombing would stop.
President Trump: The JCPOA was a road to a nuclear weapon, it was one of the worst deals ever made. My deal is a road to no nuclear weapon. It says they cannot develop or purchase a nuclear weapon—they actually fought me on the purchase part for a day before agreeing to it.
Brian: What about the Iranian people? What is your message to them, especially given reports of the regime’s brutality?
President Trump: The people are petrified because they have no guns and the regime has the guns. They’ve killed at least 40,000 to 50,000 people; they even hung a wrestler and his friends from a crane. It’s hard to have a rally when you have snipers shooting people in the head. I’ve been asked about hitting their water or power plants, but I’d rather not do that because the people suffer. Losing water is devastating, and I could do that in one minute, but I’m holding back because of the people.
Lawrence: We’ve heard reports of more action. Are you going to continue the strikes?
President Trump: Yes, There will be more bombing tonight, bigger and more powerful than before. We’ve knocked out all their anti-aircraft, so they have no defense left. They are finished. I don’t want boots on the ground, but if I wanted to, we could put a small group of soldiers in there and take over the whole place. We are stopping a very evil nation that has killed thousands of our people with roadside bombs created by Soleimani, and I took care of him.
Brian: Mr. President, thank you for joining us today with everything you have on your plate.
President Trump: Thank you very much.
Trump’s interview with Fox News Today indicates that this conflict is far from over. On one hand, Trump is justifying the confrontation through his claims—partly to avoid a defeat in the midterm elections, while on the other, Iran’s resilience has proven that toppling its regime is impossible.
While President Trump acknowledges the supply of arms during the January protests, which resulted in casualties According to the Information, due to the involvement of external actors like the US and Israel aimed at fomenting unrest, the US is simultaneously positioning itself as a sympathizer.
Trump’s figure of 50,000 deaths lacks credibility and independent verification, it is merely a claim made by the US government. This move by the US has angered Iran’s liberal population, driving them to support the current government, it remains to be seen whether the US or Iran will yield.
