Popular or not, I won't let Iran blow up the world, says Donald Trump
Analysts believe Trump is attempting to wind down the conflict through a negotiated deal that would allow him to claim "victory" over Iran without losing political face. While strikes have largely ceased since the ceasefire in early April, normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted due to Iran's restrictions on the waterway and the ongoing US naval blockade.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended the ongoing conflict with Iran, claiming that the military action so far has been “very popular,” despite criticism from opponents.
Trump made the remarks while interacting with reporters at the White House, a day after postponing a scheduled air strike on Iran.
He said the US could not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, claiming that Iran's “extremely radicalised" leadership would use it.
“Whether it’s popular or not, I have to do it because I'm not going to let the world be blown up on my watch. It's not going to happen," he said.
ANOTHER STRIKE SOON?
He also suggested that the US may carry out another strike on Iran, saying he was just an hour away from deciding on a strike before postponing it.
“I was an hour away from making the decision to go today,” Trump told reporters.
Trump on Monday said he had instructed the military to halt an attack on Iran, originally scheduled for Tuesday, after Tehran reportedly sent a new peace proposal to the US.
In a post on Truth Social, he said leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had urged him not to proceed with the strike in anticipation of a possible deal. But officials from these countries denied knowing anything about such an operation.
He also warned that US forces should be “prepared to go forward with a full, large-scale assault” if a deal is not reached with Iran.
He claimed that Iran’s leadership was desperately seeking a deal and suggested that a new US attack could take place in the coming days if negotiations fail.
“Well, I mean, I’m saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week, a limited period of time, because we can’t let them have a new nuclear weapon,” he said.
US SEEKING TO EXIT WAR
Analysts believe Trump is attempting to wind down the conflict through a negotiated deal that would allow him to claim “victory” over Iran without losing political face.
The war began on February 28, 2026, when US-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. However, the core US objective of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains unmet.
While strikes have largely ceased since the ceasefire in early April, normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted due to Iran’s restrictions on the waterway and the ongoing US naval blockade.
Under pressure to secure a deal that would reopen the critical waterway, Trump has previously expressed optimism that an agreement was close, while also threatening intensified strikes on Iran if Tehran fails to reach terms.
According to Iran’s state media, Tehran’s latest peace proposal involves ending hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, the withdrawal of US forces from areas close to Iran, and reparations for destruction caused by the US-Israeli war.
However, geopolitical experts believe the terms of the proposal may be too stringent for the US to accept, raising the possibility that hostilities between the arch-rivals could resume in the near future.