US President Donald Trump fired back at Iran with a sharp response, saying it “made a mistake,” after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed that “the Iranian nation will not surrender” and warned of “irreparable damage” if the US joins the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict.Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump replied, “I say ‘good luck,’” when asked about Khamenei’s remarks.“They had 60 days… They made a mistake,” Trump said on the White House South Lawn while preparing to raise a new flagpole, responding to a reporter’s question.Pressed on whether he would commit US forces to join Israeli efforts in targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. Trump responded with a smirk, “I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”“You don’t seriously think I’m going to answer that question.” What Trump did confirm, however, was that Iran has reached out to negotiate. “Iran’s got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate,” he said.“And I told them, why didn’t you talk to me two weeks ago? You could’ve done fine. You would’ve had a country,” he added.Tensions between Iran and the US have surged in recent days, following Israel’s intensive strikes on dozens of Iranian military and nuclear sites across Tehran, and Iran’s retaliatory launch of hypersonic missiles—marking a dangerous new phase in the conflict.Trump said Iran now wants to negotiate amid its escalating conflict with Israel, but criticised the timing, saying it came ‘too late.’“Iran’s got a lot of trouble, and they want to negotiate,” Trump said. “And I said, ‘Why didn’t you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction? Why didn’t you negotiate?’ I said to people, ‘Why didn’t you negotiate with me two weeks ago? You could have done fine. You would have had a country,’” he added.Trump also addressed his fiery Truth Social post demanding “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” from Iran. Asked what he meant by it, he said, “That means I’ve had it. OK, I’ve had it. I give up. No more.”Trump had signaled his patience was wearing thin, stating, “It’s very late to be talking. I don’t know — there’s a big difference between now and a week ago.”Trump’s latest remarks came after Khamenei rejected US demands for surrender and warned that “The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage.” Calling Israel’s offensive a “huge mistake,” the Iranian leader reiterated his country would not surrender.Khamenei’s comments come on the sixth day of intense aerial conflict between Iran and Israel, which has already killed hundreds and hit key infrastructure across Iran. The escalation followed Israeli airstrikes on multiple Iranian targets, including nuclear and military sites in Tehran, triggering swift retaliation from Iran.Though Trump initially kept the US at a distance from Israel’s offensive, his recent statements and increased US military deployments to the region suggest that Washington could be preparing for deeper involvement.
