‘United States of the Middle East?’: Trump posts US flag covering Iran | US-Israel war on Iran News

Latest Truth Social publish comes amid ‘delicate diplomacy’, professional says, as US and Iran point out progress in talks.

Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump has posted a photograph of the United States flag covering the map of Iran, with the query: “United States of the Middle East?”

The publish on Truth Social on Saturday represented one other probably incendiary message from Trump amid ongoing negotiations for a extra lasting ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iranmentioned consultants.

It carries the potential to position each regional allies and foes alike given Washington’s previous intervention in the Middle East, most notably throughout the US invasion of Iraq from 2003 to 2011, in addition to the Trump administration’s push to extend its affect overseas.

The sentiment additionally seems to run counter to the Trump administration’s repeated statements that it isn’t looking for a protracted occupation of Iran. The US has maintained it isn’t looking for outright regime change in its war, which it launched alongside Israel on February 28, however that it could welcome such change as a byproduct of the navy marketing campaign.

Even for a president recognized for outlandish social media posts and conflicting messaging On the war, the publish may have implications for ongoing negotiations geared toward a extra lasting ceasefire, in keeping with Vali Nasr, professor of worldwide affairs and Middle East research at Johns Hopkins University.

He identified to Trump’s risk in early April that an “entire civilization will die” if Iran didn’t comply with a deal at the time. Hours later, each side agreed to a pause in combating.

That pause has been held since, save for a handful of flare-ups, with the US persevering with to blockade Iranian ports and Tehran successfully closing the Strait of Hormuz.

“First he declared he wanted to eradicate Iran’s civilization now he is declaring that he wants to turn Iran into an American property,” Nasr wrote on X.

“It is this kind of grotesque behavior that undermines diplomacy and unites Iranians in defense of their country,” he added. “In the middle of delicate diplomacy he casts doubts about America’s true intentions.”

The White House didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Fragile negotiations proceed

On Saturday, each US and Iranian officers indicated a brand new deal could also be inside attain.

Trump instructed CBS News each side had been “getting a lot closer.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned an replace may very well be coming shortly, the broadcaster reported.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei mentioned the two sides had been “currently working to finalize” a memorandum of understanding, and that “the opinions have been converging.”

Still, there have been unofficial bulletins associated to key sticking factors in the standoff, together with the future of Iran’s nuclear program, the destiny of its extremely enriched uranium stockpile, and its future affect over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump commonly makes use of his Truth Social account, which he launched after being briefly banned from Twitter, now X, in the wake of the 2020 election, to make main bulletins, assault political enemies, and publish AI-generated photos and movies.

The overseas coverage of his second time period has been outlined by efforts to develop US affect overseas, notably in the Americas. That has included the navy abduction of Venezuelan chief Nicolas Maduro, continued threats towards Cuba, and vows to take management of Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory in the North Atlantic.

The Trump administration has adopted the time period the Donroe Doctrinea reference to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, which sought to decrease European affect in the Western Hemisphere.

On Saturday, Trump additionally posted a picture of his face peering over a mountain vary in Greenland.

“Hello, Greenland!” it mentioned.