Trump: When will the Iranian people rise up and fight?

US President Donald Trump affirmed on Wednesday that he is not attempting to force Iran back to the negotiating table, denying media reports that his administration is seeking to push Tehran toward a new deal. As military and economic tensions between the two countries escalate, Trump asked, “When will the Iranian people rise up and fight?” In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, “I am not trying to force Iran to sit at the negotiating table,” criticizing a report by ABC News on the matter. He added that he is no longer interested in what he described as a worthless agreement with Iran, considering the current situation more favorable to the United States than returning to a negotiating track that fails to achieve Washington’s objectives. Trump stated that he prefers the status quo, citing what he described as near-total control over the Strait of Hormuz and the complete collapse of the Iranian economy, adding that Tehran is “only postponing the inevitable,” in his words. The US president’s remarks reflect a harder line in his rhetoric toward Iran, particularly as they came hours after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington would continue economic pressure until Tehran is ready to reach an agreement. Trump went further than the military and economic files, questioning in his post: “When will the Iranian people rise up and fight?” a statement that could add an internal political dimension to the pressure Washington is exerting on Tehran. Conversely, Trump’s remarks do not signify an official US announcement closing the door on diplomacy permanently, but rather indicate that the president currently sees no need to pressure Iran to return quickly to negotiations. Efforts to reach an understanding between Washington and Tehran had stalled, with Bessent stating that the previous memorandum of understanding failed because the Iranians were not ready to reach an agreement.