Iran will pay for taking too long to negotiate - Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that Iran has delayed negotiations for too long and will now "have to pay the price." Trump asserted in a social media post that the Iranian military has been "completely defeated."

His remarks came after the United States and Iran engaged in retaliatory strikes, which strained a ceasefire that had taken effect in April. "The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

This statement marked a shift from his comments to reporters on Tuesday, when he described negotiations for an enduring settlement to end the war as being in their "final throes" and potentially concluded within "two or three days."

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The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!

Late Tuesday, U.S. forces reported carrying out strikes against Iran in retaliation for the downing of an American helicopter on Monday. Iranian media reported explosions along its southern coast. The U.S. Central Command later confirmed U.S. Air Force and Navy control over command and control, defense, and surveillance stations. Iran claimed it attacked American bases in Jordan and Bahrain on Wednesday.

Trump's assertion of Iran's military defeat and the demand for payment contrasts with the ongoing diplomatic efforts and recent military escalations between the two nations.

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final throes