President Donald Trump said Wednesday that negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran are progressing “very well,” while also making clear that the administration is prepared to escalate militarily if diplomacy breaks down.
Speaking during a televised Cabinet meeting, Trump projected confidence about the ongoing talks but paired that optimism with a blunt warning directed at Tehran. When asked by a reporter to describe what “yard line” the negotiations had reached in football terms, the president declined to give a precise measure but suggested Iran was beginning to concede on key issues.
“They are starting to give us the things that they have to give us, and if they do, that’s great,” Trump said. “And if they won’t, then the man on my left is going to finish ’em off.”
Trump was referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was seated beside him during the meeting. The remark underscored the administration’s dual-track approach: public optimism about negotiations combined with an unmistakable threat of overwhelming force if talks fail.
The comments come amid mounting pressure to bring the conflict to a close after months of fighting under Operation Epic Fury. Trump suggested patience was needed, especially compared to the lengthy wars America has endured in the past.
“The problem is, every time I mention a time frame — for instance… we’ve been doing this for a few months,” Trump said. “Vietnam lasted 19 years. Korea lasted eight years. Afghanistan lasted many years. They were all many, many years. And we’re into it for a few months. And I read about you, people like you, [saying] ‘What’s taking so long?’”
The president’s comparison to past American conflicts appeared intended to frame the current war as relatively limited in duration so far, while also hinting at the dangers of allowing foreign entanglements to drag on indefinitely. The wars in Vietnam, Korea, and Afghanistan remain painful reminders for many Americans of how quickly military operations can expand beyond their original goals.
Trump also reflected on the American casualties suffered during the conflict, specifically referencing the 13 U.S. service members killed during Operation Epic Fury. The president said he had personally met with the families of those who died.
“We lost 13 souls, 13 great people. [I] met the parents, great people. Uh, and it’s a terrible thing,” Trump said.
At the same time, Trump contrasted those losses with the much larger casualty counts seen in previous wars.
“But 13. If you look at the war casualties and the deaths in wars for Vietnam and all that, they lost hundreds of thousands of people in numerous of these wars,” he continued. “We’re very cognizant of that. We want to lose very few, we want very few to be injured. We’re very careful. But war is war. War is dangerous.”
Trump’s remarks followed his recent prediction that a deal with Iran would be announced “shortly.” However, uncertainty remains over how close the two sides actually are. The New York Times reported Wednesday that Iranian state television claimed Tehran had received a draft preliminary agreement, though the Trump administration reportedly dismissed that claim soon afterward.
Earlier in the Cabinet meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that the United States would not compromise on one major issue: preventing Iran from ever developing a nuclear weapon. Rubio said that point remained central to the negotiations as discussions continue behind closed doors.
For now, the administration is signaling confidence that diplomacy may still prevail — while reminding both allies and adversaries that military force remains firmly on the table if talks suddenly unravel.
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