U.S. President Donald Trump reacts, flanked by West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, as remarks are delivered to reporters about his administration's support for coal energy production, among other topics, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 4. Reuters-Yonhap
WASHINGTON — United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Iran has taken too long to negotiate a deal over the conflict in the Middle East and will now "have to pay the price."
Trump's social media post, in which he asserted that the Iranian military has been "completely defeated," came after the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire, straining a ceasefire that took effect in April.
"The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
It marked a contrast with his comments to reporters on Tuesday that negotiations on an enduring settlement to end the war were in their "final throes," and could be wrapped up in "two or three days."
