Trump declares Iran “surrendered” to Middle East neighbors, threatens further strikes

President Donald Trump said that Iran has “apologized and surrendered” to its Middle East neighbors and pledged to cease military attacks against them, while simultaneously warning that additional strikes against Iranian targets are imminent.

In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump claimed that coordinated military pressure from the US and Israel has pushed Iran into retreat and that the country has lost its influence as a regional power.

He also stated that other Middle Eastern countries had thanked him for helping to bring about this outcome.

The US president indicated that military operations would continue, including strikes on targets that had not previously been considered.

War between Iran, US, and Israel enters second week

The war involving Iran, the US, and Israel has entered its second week following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, a large-scale joint military campaign targeting more than 900 sites across Iran.

During the opening wave of strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed at his compound, creating a sudden leadership crisis in Tehran and escalating tensions across the Middle East.

Over the past week, Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against US military bases in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The country also moved to close the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, triggering a sharp rise in international oil prices.

The regional situation has further deteriorated as the Iran-aligned militant group Hezbollah resumed heavy rocket and missile attacks from Lebanon toward Israeli targets.

Washington demanded unconditional surrender from Iran’s leadership, but Tehran rejected it, according to the latest developments.

In a statement released today, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian announced that the country’s interim leadership council has authorized a new rule preventing strikes on neighboring countries, stating that Iran will only respond militarily if attacks against Iran originate from their territory.