President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the Iranian public Tuesday night, openly questioning why the country’s citizens have not rebelled against their government as the conflict with the United States stretches beyond six months.
Trump made the remark in a Truth Social post disputing an ABC News report that claimed he was attempting to pressure Iran into negotiations to end the war.
“I’m not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table, as ABC Fake News reported,” Trump wrote.
The president said he was not concerned about whether Iranian officials signed what he characterized as a “worthless” agreement and argued that the United States now holds a stronger position.
“I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing,” Trump said.
Trump claimed Iran was “just playing out the inevitable” before directly addressing the country’s population.
“When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?” the president asked, signing the post, “President DJT.”
The conflict passed the six-month mark on Aug. 28, despite Trump’s statements during its early stages that the fighting would last only a matter of weeks.
The war began after a reported Feb. 12 meeting in the White House Situation Room, during which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented intelligence to Trump and other senior American officials.
Netanyahu reportedly argued that Israeli intelligence indicated Iran was ready for regime change.
After the Israeli prime minister left the room, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly dismissed the presentation as “bullsh*t.”
Throughout the past six months, Trump has repeatedly claimed that Iranian leaders want to reach an agreement “badly.” Iran’s government, however, is currently refusing to participate in negotiations.
The Iranian government has also sharply restricted travel through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route. Trump has referred to the strait as a “new U.S. territory.”
Tensions surrounding the waterway escalated Monday when Iran struck two tankers that were attempting to leave the strait.
Iranian and American forces have exchanged fire in recent days. The United States has conducted bombing operations against Iran, while Tehran has responded by targeting American assets throughout the region.
Trump’s Tuesday statement rejected the suggestion that he was eager to bring Iran back to the negotiating table. Instead, he portrayed the continued economic pressure and the U.S. position around the Strait of Hormuz as preferable to a new agreement with Tehran.
His post also marked a direct appeal to the Iranian population, with the president publicly challenging citizens to take action against their own government.
The remarks came on the same day that the Financial Times reported Russia is assisting Iran with the development of supersonic cruise missiles.
Trump did not address that report in his Truth Social message.
The president instead focused his criticism on ABC News’ description of his intentions, Iran’s refusal to accept what he viewed as the inevitable outcome of the conflict and the Iranian public’s failure to launch an uprising.
His comments arrived as fighting continues, commercial shipping faces disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian government remains unwilling to negotiate with the United States.
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