In an interview with Axios, the U.S. president expressed the opinion that Iran's "unconditional surrender," which he mentioned in a social media post on Friday, may not imply an official acknowledgment of surrender.
"Unconditional surrender may be proclaimed [by the Iranians], but it can also happen at a moment when they find themselves unable to continue the fight, as they will no longer have the resources or strength to do so," Trump clarified.
According to information from the White House, the concept of Tehran's "unconditional surrender" implies that the decision to end the threat from Iran will be made by the U.S. president himself. Administration officials believe that it will take approximately four to six weeks to achieve U.S. objectives in the operation against Iran.
Previously, Donald Trump had already expressed his expectations regarding Iran's unconditional surrender.
He noted: "There can be no agreements with Iran, except for UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that, and after the election of a GREAT AND ACCEPTABLE leader or leaders, we and our brave allies will work hard to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it more economically developed, prosperous, and stronger than ever before. Iran is looking forward to a GREAT FUTURE. 'MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)'," he wrote on Truth Social.
The president also expressed his position on religious leadership in Iran.
"It may be acceptable, depending on the specific individual. I am not against religious leaders. I have experience interacting with many of them, and they can be wonderful," Trump added.
When asked whether he believes a democratic state is necessary in Iran, the president answered negatively.
"A leader is needed who will be fair and honest, effectively carry out their duties, and also have a good relationship with the U.S. and Israel, as well as with other Middle Eastern countries that are our partners," he emphasized.
Trump's pragmatic approach to international relations once again underscores his willingness to engage with various regimes in the interests of the U.S., sharply contrasting with the ideological approaches of previous administrations.
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