United States President Donald Trump has rejected any prospect of immediate negotiations with Iran, even though Tehran wants them.
“Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said ‘Too Late!’” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, two days after saying he had agreed to talks, amid the joint Israeli-US bombardment of Iran.
The statement comes amid conflicting signals from the administration on diplomacy, as the conflict—now in its fourth day—continues to escalate across the Middle East.
The military campaign began on February 28, 2026, with coordinated US and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian leadership, air defenses, missile sites, naval assets, and command facilities.
The strikes resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confirmed by Iranian state media on March 1, which declared a period of national mourning.
Iran has responded with retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US bases, Israel, and Gulf allies, including strikes that damaged infrastructure in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the US military has confirmed six American service members killed in the conflict so far.
Trump has framed the operation as a necessary response to Iran’s ballistic missile program and nuclear ambitions, describing it as the “last best chance” to neutralize threats to the US and its allies.
Trump says ‘too late’ for Iran to seek talks
