US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his demand from Iran for an “unconditional surrender” could mean the complete removal of its military capabilities, and not necessarily a formal declaration of surrender.
In a phone call with Axios, Trump indicated that unconditional surrender may take the form of an official declaration from Iran, or it may mean its inability to fight after losing the military capabilities that allow it to do so.
Trump’s statements came hours after his post on the “Truth Social” platform in which he ruled out any agreement with Tehran, stressing that the only option is unconditional surrender.
Later, White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt explained in an interview with Fox News that what was meant by unconditional surrender was for Trump to see that Iran could no longer threaten the United States or its forces in the Middle East.
She indicated that American goals include destroying Iran’s naval capabilities, eliminating the threat of ballistic missiles, preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, in addition to weakening its allies in the region.
On the other hand, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that some countries have begun mediation efforts to stop the war, stressing in a post on the “X” platform that his country is committed to achieving lasting peace in the region, but will not hesitate to defend its sovereignty and the dignity of its people.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also confirmed that Iran will not allow Trump to impose his conditions on it, considering that the country’s fate is determined by the Iranian people alone.
In the same context, informed sources reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Arab foreign ministers in phone calls that the war may last for several additional weeks, indicating that the current military operations focus on Iranian missile launchers, their stocks, and their factories.
Rubio added that there is currently no direct dialogue between Washington and Tehran, considering that any negotiations at this stage may hinder the ongoing military objectives.
