President Donald Trump responded sharply on Wednesday to comments from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who declared that Iran would “never surrender” in its escalating conflict with Israel.
“I say, good luck,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House. Asked when his patience with Iran would run out, the president replied, “It’s already run out — that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.”
Mr. Trump’s remarks come amid reports that he is increasingly open to using U.S. military force against Iranian nuclear facilities, as hopes for a diplomatic resolution continue to fade. Still, the president said a negotiated solution was not entirely off the table. “Nothing’s too late,” he added.
The president also emphasized his ongoing support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that he has spoken with the Israeli leader daily amid the crisis. “I said: Keep going,” Mr. Trump told CNN when asked about his message to Mr. Netanyahu. “He’s a good man, doing a lot.”
Mr. Trump said his most recent conversation with Mr. Netanyahu occurred on Monday and suggested that the Israeli leader has been “very unfairly treated by his country,” an apparent reference to Netanyahu’s ongoing legal challenges in Israel.
Pressed on whether the United States would expand its support to Israel beyond current levels, Mr. Trump declined to commit, saying only: “So far, he’s done a good job. He’s a wartime president, and he’s going through this nonsense — it’s ridiculous.”
Mr. Trump’s comments come as tensions in the region intensify, with Israel continuing to target Iranian military infrastructure and Iran responding with missile attacks. The administration has ramped up its military presence in the region, though no formal decision has been announced regarding U.S. military engagement.
