US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to “do the smart thing,” claiming the country is under severe economic pressure due to unprecedented sanctions.
His remarks come amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Gulf, with both US and Israeli military officials closely monitoring the situation.
Speaking during an event at the White House, Trump said Iran’s economy was “failing” and blamed it on what he described as “tremendous sanctions” imposed by the United States.
He credited US Treasury officials for enforcing what he called one of the toughest sanction regimes ever seen.
Trump also claimed that Iran’s currency had become “worthless” and alleged inflation levels in the country could be as high as 150 percent.
The US president said Iran should choose a diplomatic path, arguing that further confrontation would only worsen its situation.
“They should do the smart thing because we don’t want to go in and kill people,” Trump said, suggesting that Tehran was now in a weakened position and under pressure to reach a deal.
He further claimed that Iran was interested in negotiations, but accused its leadership of sending mixed messages publicly.
Military and regional tensions in Gulf
Separately, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said Israel is “closely monitoring” developments in the Gulf region.
He stated that Israel remains prepared to respond forcefully to any perceived threat, underscoring growing regional security concerns.
Trump also referenced ongoing maritime operations in the region, claiming that a blockade was “working” and that US forces had taken control of certain situations at sea.
He mentioned earlier US military activity involving small Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that US forces had acted under a broader operational plan to secure maritime routes.
The US president repeated his earlier assertions that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly degraded.
He said Iran’s naval forces had been “destroyed” and described the country as operating with limited maritime assets.
Trump also linked these developments to broader US and allied military actions in the region.
Reiterating his long-standing position, Trump warned against Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, calling it unacceptable.
He described Iran’s leadership in highly critical terms and said the United States would not allow nuclear escalation.
