U.S. President Donald Trump announced on April 6, 2026, that Tuesday serves as the "final deadline" for Iran, acknowledging that Tehran has made a "very significant" but ultimately insufficient proposal to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Discussing the state of the war, Trump asserted that the United States has achieved "total regime change" and described the new Iranian leadership as much smarter than its predecessors. He dismissed Iran's remaining military strength, stating that while they have some missiles and drones left, they essentially possess "no capability." However, the president conceded that Iran "got a little bit lucky" regarding U.S. F-15 fighter jets. He also noted that some American helicopters had sustained bullet holes, but confirmed that two rescued U.S. airmen are doing well.
Trump candidly addressed his strategic desires for the region, stating that if the choice were solely up to him, he would seize and keep Iranian oil. "Unfortunately, the American people would like to see us come home," he admitted, adding that the public would likely not understand an oil seizure. When a reporter asked what he would say to Americans who oppose the ongoing war, Trump dismissed them as "foolish" and emphasized that his core MAGA base overwhelmingly supports his actions.
The president also revealed a significant setback involving arms shipments, stating that weapons intended for the Iranian people were intercepted and kept by the intermediaries tasked with delivering them. He warned that this unidentified group "will pay a big price" for their actions. Trump claimed that the Iranian public actually wants to hear bombings and is ready to rebel, arguing that if the populace were armed, the Iranian government "would give up in two seconds." Furthermore, he condemned the regime for allegedly killing 45,000 protesters.
Defending his administration's broader geopolitical stance, Trump warned against the United Kingdom repeating historical mistakes, stating, "We don't want another Neville Chamberlain." Reflecting on the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, he suggested that the war might be more difficult if the Iranian commander were still alive, though he insisted the U.S. would still be winning.
Trump concluded his remarks with a jab at his predecessor, telling an audience of children that Joe Biden was followed by an autopen because he was "incapable of signing" documents himself.