Former President Donald Trump delivered a sharp two-word response—“Good luck”—after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Iran would never surrender to Israel. Khamenei’s statement followed Trump’s remarks suggesting the U.S. knew Khamenei’s location and that Israel controlled the airspace above Iran. When asked by a reporter what he would say in response to Khamenei’s vow, Trump mocked the Iranian leader with his brief reply. He also dismissed a Wall Street Journal report claiming he had authorized military strike plans against Iran, calling the story inaccurate. “The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!” he wrote on Truth Social. The report, citing anonymous sources, alleged Trump had approved military options but was withholding final orders to see if Iran would abandon its nuclear ambitions. Trump refused to confirm or deny the possibility of a strike, sarcastically questioning whether anyone would expect him to reveal such plans in advance.
Despite his aggressive tone, Trump signaled a willingness to negotiate, stating, “It’s never too late.” After returning from the G7 summit, he warned that Iran was “very close” to developing a nuclear weapon and reiterated that Tehran must never be allowed to possess one. Following the expiration of a 60-day ultimatum for Iran to end its nuclear program—and amid Israeli airstrikes—Trump extended the deadline by two more weeks. He framed the extension as a final chance for Iran to commit to peace and abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons.
