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President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran must decide whether to reach a new agreement with the United States or face additional military action, warning that Washington would “finish the job” if negotiations fail.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president said he believes Tehran wants to negotiate following recent U.S. military operations but cautioned that the opportunity for diplomacy will not remain open indefinitely.
“We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job,” he said, according to Reuters. “I’d rather make a deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people.”
President Trump also said the United States paused negotiations during funeral ceremonies for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the recent conflict. He said talks are expected to resume after the mourning period.
The administration has maintained that its primary objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon while seeking a broader agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program.
The latest comments come after weeks of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with both governments weighing whether to pursue diplomacy or risk renewed military confrontation.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran for Khamenei’s funeral, where crowds expressed anger toward the United States and called for retaliation. Some attendees also called for Trump’s death, while Iranian officials blamed the U.S. president for Khamenei’s killing.
Iranian leaders have vowed to respond to the U.S. operation, while the Trump administration has defended the strikes as necessary to counter Iranian threats and prevent further advances in Tehran’s nuclear program.
Although the funeral ceremonies temporarily paused diplomatic efforts, uncertainty remains over whether negotiations can produce a lasting agreement or whether tensions between the two countries will escalate further.
