WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Iran has taken “too long to negotiate a deal” with the United States and “will have to pay the price”.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Iran had been “completely defeated” and described its military as a “complete and total mess,” adding that its navy and air force “don’t even exist anymore.”
“Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price,” Trump wrote.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 10, 2026
In another post, Trump claimed that Iran was “quickly becoming a failed nation” due to the US blockade of Iranian ports.
“Nothing gets through unless we want it. It is a steel wall!” the US President said, adding that Iran was “doing zero business, not paying their military, or any of their bills.”
Trump described the US naval blockade as “the most successful blockade in the history of naval warfare.”
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran “must move” beyond the current “no war, no peace” situation in the region.
“War is certainly not in the country’s interest, but if they seek to violate our dignity, our land, and our territory, we will not surrender,” the Iranian President said during an event in Tehran, according to state-run IRNA news agency.
President @drpezeshkian : Enemy counting on internal division to force Iran into submissionhttps://t.co/CuzPPxuw28 pic.twitter.com/zZpZxUPiJ2
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) June 10, 2026
Qatari delegation visits Tehran
Meanwhile, a Qatari delegation arrived in the Iranian capital on Wednesday to discuss and exchange views on bilateral relations and regional developments, Al Jazeera reported, citing Iranian media outlet ISNA.
The news outlet said the diplomatic process to end the war will be among the topics discussed during the visit.
“Following consultations with the US, Qatari negotiators travelled to Tehran this morning to meet with the Iranians in an effort to bridge the remaining gaps,” AFP quoted a diplomat with knowledge of the situation as saying on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive talks.
The diplomatic effort came after Iran and the US exchanged fire following the downing of an American helicopter, further straining a ceasefire that took effect in April.
US, Iran trade strikes
Earlier today, the US and Iran traded fresh military strikes, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf after Washington launched retaliatory attacks over the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter.
US forces launched strikes against Iran after an American Army Apache helicopter was shot down near the Strait of Hormuz.
Hours later, Iran claimed it had responded by targeting US military facilities in the Gulf, including the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and US military facilities in Jordan.
In a statement carried by state media, the Guards said long-range missiles struck four targets at the Al-Azraq air base in Jordan, including what they described as facilities used by F-35 fighter jets and a US military command centre.
The Guards had earlier said Iran carried out drone attacks against the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and warned of “heavier responses” if Washington continued its military operations against Iran.
The exchange of attacks came despite ongoing diplomatic efforts and a ceasefire that had largely halted direct hostilities between Iran and Israel since April.
Trump, in a telephone interview with ABC News, said the United States was responding “in a strong manner” to “what they did with our helicopter last night.”
“And I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is,” he said.
