US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran to “better get smart soon” as efforts by Washington and Tehran to end hostilities appeared at a standstill.
“Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!” the US leader posted on his Truth Social platform, alongside an illustration of Trump holding an assault rifle, with the caption “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!”
Meanwhile, Trump has told US national security officials to prepare for a long blockade of Iran’s ports in order to compel Tehran to give up its nuclear program, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Trump, according to the report, does not believe that Iran is negotiating in good faith and hopes it can be forced to suspend uranium enrichment for 20 years and accept tight restrictions thereafter.
Citing unnamed officials, the Journal said Trump had decided during a Monday meeting in the White House situation room that both resuming bombing or walking away from the conflict were too risky.
Instead, he reportedly told officials, the US Navy would continue to squeeze Iran’s key oil exports until Tehran agrees to all of Washington’s demands.
Likewise, the United Nations said Iran has executed at least 21 people and arrested more than 4,000 since the beginning of the Middle East war.
Since the US-Israeli strikes sparked the war in late February, at least nine people have been executed in connection with the protests that rocked Iran in January 2026, another 10 for alleged membership of opposition groups and two on spying charges, the UN’s rights office said. More than 4,000 people are meanwhile estimated to have been arrested on national security-related grounds, the agency added. (AFP)
