Trump issues ultimatum to Iran: ‘No deal except unconditional surrender’
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said Iran could have a “great future” after surrendering and selecting new leaders, pledging that the US and its partners would work to restore the country economically, while invoking the slogan “Make Iran Great Again (MIGA).”
US President Donald Trump on Friday (March 6) said there would be "no deal with Iran" unless it agrees to “unconditional surrender,” outlining a hardline stance as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The US President said that after such a development, the United States and its allies would help rebuild Iran and restore its economy.
“After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” he wrote.
Trump added that Iran could have a strong future if it follows that path. “IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. ‘MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).’”
The remarks come amid intensifying tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran, with ongoing military operations and retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region.
The United States is quietly moving thousands of people out of several Middle Eastern countries as fighting between the US, Israel and Iran intensifies, Trump said on Friday, even as Israel widened its military operations across the region.
In a social media post, Trump said the evacuations were underway but provided few details about the scale or locations.
“It is being done quietly, but seamlessly,” Trump wrote.
The developments come amid escalating military action involving Israel, Iran and regional militias, raising fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
Trump demands role in choosing Iran’s next leader
In remarks a day earlier, Trump said Washington should have a role in selecting Iran’s next supreme leader after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening phase of the war.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Reuters on Thursday, Trump said the United States expected to help influence the choice of Khamenei’s successor.
“We're going to have to choose that person along with Iran. We're going to have to choose that person,” Trump said.
Under Iran’s political system, the supreme leader is chosen by a panel of religious clerics known as the Assembly of Experts.
Israel has openly said its military campaign aims to overthrow Iran’s ruling system, while the United States has stated its objective is to dismantle Iran’s ability to project military power beyond its borders.
Israel intensifies strikes in Lebanon and Iran
Meanwhile, Israel expanded the war by launching large-scale airstrikes on Lebanon’s capital Beirut.
The Israeli military ordered an unprecedented evacuation of the entire southern suburbs of Beirut before carrying out multiple waves of airstrikes.
Explosions lit up the night sky over the densely populated area, which houses hundreds of thousands of residents and is considered a stronghold of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shi’ite militia.
Israel said about 50 warplanes also carried out strikes inside Iran, targeting a bunker beneath the destroyed Tehran compound of Khamenei that Israeli officials said was still being used by Iran’s leadership.
Civilians flee Beirut suburbs
The scale of the strikes forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, with many spending the night outdoors in central Beirut.
Iran signals possible mediation efforts
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated that diplomatic efforts may be underway to reduce tensions.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian said some countries had begun mediation initiatives but did not identify them.
“Let’s be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region, but we have not the slightest hesitation in defending the dignity and authority of our country,” he wrote.
Attacks spread across the Gulf
Inside Israel, air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones.
Several Gulf states — including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia — also reported fresh Iranian drone and missile attacks.
The expanding conflict has already caused heavy casualties across multiple countries.