Trump endorses op-ed urging Iran hardliners' killing; Tehran calls it moral failure
Donald Trump reposted Marc Thiessen's op-ed on Truth Social, calling it "Very true!!!". The piece argued that if Iran is divided, "let's kill the ones who don't want a deal."
US President Donald Trump has made his position on Iran unmistakably tough by openly supporting a Washington Post op-ed that challenges the idea of rushing into any deal, even killing the leaders who oppose compromising.
On Thursday, Trump reposted Marc Thiessen’s piece on Truth Social and summed up his view in two words: "Very true!!!" The writer put the controversial idea directly on the table: “If there are two factions in Iran, one that wants a deal and one that doesn't, let's kill the ones who don't want a deal.”
Trump didn’t just like the article. He also reposted Marc Thiessen’s post from X on his social media platform, pushing the same brutal logic.
It’s explosive. And Tehran is furious.
Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, posted on X that America now seemed to be championing "terrorism, murder, and mass violence" instead of its traditional values.
"The President of the United States has reposted a statement from an individual openly calling for 'killing the ones who don't want a deal.' The United States, which once presented itself as a cradle of democracy, freedom, and human values, now appears to become a promoter of terrorism, murder, and mass violence. What should one call this, if not a profound moral failure?" he wrote on X.
WHY TRUMP IS PLAYING HARD BALL
Trump had just extended the ceasefire a few days ago, calling Iran’s government "seriously fractured" and giving them extra time to sort out a unified proposal. Many in Tehran thought that showed weakness -- that Trump was desperate to avoid resuming the war. Thiessen’s column says that thinking is dead wrong.
In his piece, Marc Thiessen argued that Iran is getting crushed on two fronts at once. Almost 40 days of nonstop US and Israeli strikes have wrecked big parts of their military. Now a tight American naval blockade has completely stopped sea trade in and out of the country. Ninety-five percent of Iran’s business flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to him, more than half their oil cash goes straight to paying the military and the powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps. No oil money means no salaries for fighters. On top of that, Iran can’t import enough gasoline, so fuel shortages are coming that could spark angry protests in the streets.
He said that Iran is running out of oil, money, and time.
THE PLAYBOOK IF TALKS FAIL
So what happens if Iran keeps dragging its feet?
Thiessen lays out a clear, aggressive plan. Give them just three to five more days for a serious counter-offer. If they don’t deliver, end the ceasefire immediately. Resume the strikes. Finish the remaining 14 days of targets that were paused. Keep the blockade strangling their economy. Work with Israel to take out the Iranian leaders who are blocking any agreement.
One big option on the table: force the Strait of Hormuz wide open for everyone except Iranian ships. Then hit them with a final warning -- accept Trump’s terms or watch Kharg Island (the hub for 90 per cent of their oil exports) get destroyed, a blow that could break the regime’s power forever.
Trump has already signalled he’s ready. In one post, he said a deal might not happen "unless we blow up the rest of their country, their leaders included!" If Iran still says no after all that pressure, the column says Trump can simply declare victory without any signed paper and basically tell the Iranian people: the regime is weak now -- your move.
"I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t -- The clock is ticking," he wrote on Truth Social.
NEITHER PEACE NOR WAR
The war launched by the US and Israel on February 28 has been on pause since a ceasefire took effect on April 8, but the situation remains far from stable. Trump stepped back from threats to resume strikes in the final hours before the ceasefire deadline. However, there has been no formal extension, and no fresh round of talks has been announced.
Diplomatic efforts also remain unclear. Pakistan, which hosted earlier talks and was preparing for another round before it was cancelled, is still in contact with both sides, according to news agency. But Iranian officials have not committed to returning to the table, citing the ongoing US blockade in Strait in Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump has made his position on Iran unmistakably tough by openly supporting a Washington Post op-ed that challenges the idea of rushing into any deal, even killing the leaders who oppose compromising.
On Thursday, Trump reposted Marc Thiessen’s piece on Truth Social and summed up his view in two words: "Very true!!!" The writer put the controversial idea directly on the table: “If there are two factions in Iran, one that wants a deal and one that doesn't, let's kill the ones who don't want a deal.”
Trump didn’t just like the article. He also reposted Marc Thiessen’s post from X on his social media platform, pushing the same brutal logic.
It’s explosive. And Tehran is furious.
Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, posted on X that America now seemed to be championing "terrorism, murder, and mass violence" instead of its traditional values.
"The President of the United States has reposted a statement from an individual openly calling for 'killing the ones who don't want a deal.' The United States, which once presented itself as a cradle of democracy, freedom, and human values, now appears to become a promoter of terrorism, murder, and mass violence. What should one call this, if not a profound moral failure?" he wrote on X.
WHY TRUMP IS PLAYING HARD BALL
Trump had just extended the ceasefire a few days ago, calling Iran’s government "seriously fractured" and giving them extra time to sort out a unified proposal. Many in Tehran thought that showed weakness -- that Trump was desperate to avoid resuming the war. Thiessen’s column says that thinking is dead wrong.
In his piece, Marc Thiessen argued that Iran is getting crushed on two fronts at once. Almost 40 days of nonstop US and Israeli strikes have wrecked big parts of their military. Now a tight American naval blockade has completely stopped sea trade in and out of the country. Ninety-five percent of Iran’s business flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to him, more than half their oil cash goes straight to paying the military and the powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps. No oil money means no salaries for fighters. On top of that, Iran can’t import enough gasoline, so fuel shortages are coming that could spark angry protests in the streets.
He said that Iran is running out of oil, money, and time.
THE PLAYBOOK IF TALKS FAIL
So what happens if Iran keeps dragging its feet?
Thiessen lays out a clear, aggressive plan. Give them just three to five more days for a serious counter-offer. If they don’t deliver, end the ceasefire immediately. Resume the strikes. Finish the remaining 14 days of targets that were paused. Keep the blockade strangling their economy. Work with Israel to take out the Iranian leaders who are blocking any agreement.
One big option on the table: force the Strait of Hormuz wide open for everyone except Iranian ships. Then hit them with a final warning -- accept Trump’s terms or watch Kharg Island (the hub for 90 per cent of their oil exports) get destroyed, a blow that could break the regime’s power forever.
Trump has already signalled he’s ready. In one post, he said a deal might not happen "unless we blow up the rest of their country, their leaders included!" If Iran still says no after all that pressure, the column says Trump can simply declare victory without any signed paper and basically tell the Iranian people: the regime is weak now -- your move.
"I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t -- The clock is ticking," he wrote on Truth Social.
NEITHER PEACE NOR WAR
The war launched by the US and Israel on February 28 has been on pause since a ceasefire took effect on April 8, but the situation remains far from stable. Trump stepped back from threats to resume strikes in the final hours before the ceasefire deadline. However, there has been no formal extension, and no fresh round of talks has been announced.
Diplomatic efforts also remain unclear. Pakistan, which hosted earlier talks and was preparing for another round before it was cancelled, is still in contact with both sides, according to news agency. But Iranian officials have not committed to returning to the table, citing the ongoing US blockade in Strait in Hormuz.
