US President Donald Trump has asserted that Iran is “on the verge of surrender,” signaling that he believes the end of the ongoing war is near.
During a virtual meeting with G7 leaders last Wednesday, Trump claimed the Islamic Republic is “about to give up,” according to an Axios report published Friday. The report cited three G7 officials who were briefed on the contents of the teleconference.
According to these sources, Trump characterized the military campaign as having “gotten rid of a cancer that was threatening us all,” though he noted that the instability in Tehran is so severe that it remains unclear who is left with the authority to formally announce a surrender.
Internal friction at the White House
Simultaneously, a report by Reuters highlights a “complex conflict” unfolding within the White House, which has caused the President to shift his public rhetoric regarding the war’s trajectory. Aides are reportedly locked in a debate over when and how to declare victory, even as the conflict continues to spread across the Middle East.
Some officials and advisors have warned Trump that surging gasoline prices—which hit a national average of $3.60 per gallon this week—could carry a heavy political cost following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Conversely, hardliners within the administration are pressing the President to maintain the offensive against the Republic to ensure total regime collapse. These insights were gathered through Reuters interviews with a Trump advisor and several others close to the high-level deliberations.
