In a bold social media salvo, President Donald Trump declared that Iran’s military leadership is decimated and any plea for dialogue has come far too late. Tagging a Washington Post editorial that praised his recent airstrikes, Trump posted on Truth Social: ‘Their air defense, air force, navy, and leadership are gone. They want to talk. I said, “Too late!”‘
This comes amid escalating tensions following U.S. airstrikes on Iran that began on February 28. Trump has urged Iranians to overthrow their government while maintaining the pressure from the skies. Just a day prior, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani firmly denied any negotiations with Washington, dismissing reports of outreach as fabrications.
Larijani’s statement followed a Wall Street Journal report claiming he had signaled willingness to restart talks via Omani intermediaries. He fired back on X, accusing Trump of sowing chaos in the Middle East through delusion. Undeterred, Trump doubled down in an Atlantic interview, insisting Iran’s ‘new leadership’ now seeks talks but missed their chance by not acting sooner on ‘practical and easy’ demands.
The exchanges highlight a stark rift. Western media buzzed with speculation of Tehran softening its stance, but Iranian officials insist no such overtures exist. Trump’s aggressive posture signals no letup in the campaign, as he frames the strikes as a decisive blow to Iran’s capabilities. Critics worry this brinkmanship risks broader regional instability, while supporters hail it as strong leadership against a longtime adversary.
As markets watch nervously and allies weigh responses, Trump’s ‘too late’ retort underscores a policy of maximum pressure, leaving little room for de-escalation in the foreseeable future.