Trump: Iran wants to negotiate but 'afraid to say it' as war continues
President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that Iran is eager to negotiate but is "afraid to say it" because leaders fear being killed "by their own people" or by the US. The remarks come as the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its fifth week with over 1,340 killed and 13 US service members dead.
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran is eager to negotiate as an American military operation continues but is reluctant to publicly acknowledge it. "They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but they're afraid to say it, because they figure they'll be killed by their own people. They're also afraid they'll be killed by us," Trump said at the National Republican Congressional Committee's annual fundraising dinner.
Contradictory signals
Trump's claims of ongoing negotiations have been repeatedly rejected by Iranian officials. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei have both stated that no direct or indirect talks have taken place. The president's latest remarks come after he announced a five-day pause on strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure earlier this week, citing "very good and productive" talks.
Conflict context
Regional tensions have escalated since Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran that has killed more than 1,340 people, according to Iranian authorities, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets. The conflict has expanded to Lebanon, where Israeli ground operations have displaced over one million people, and the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed.
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US casualties
Thirteen US service members have been killed and around 290 others have been injured since the operation began, the White House confirmed. The casualties reflect the intensity of the conflict even as Washington signals possible movement toward a diplomatic resolution.
Ceasefire speculation
Israeli media reported Wednesday that Trump may declare a ceasefire on Saturday, March 28, even without a formal agreement with Iran, as officials seek to maximize military achievements before any potential US pullback. The reported timeline would mark the end of the fifth week of hostilities.
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