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President Donald Trump challenged “unknown” Iranian negotiators to be “serious” about a ceasefire deal on Thursday.
“The Iranian negotiators are very different and 'amazing,'” Trump wrote in a Thursday morning post on Public Truth. They are “begging” us to make a deal, which they should be doing since they are out of the military, with absolutely no chance of return, but they publicly say that they are 'considering our proposal.'
“OK!!! They better hurry, before it's too late, because once it happens, THERE'S NO GOING BACK, and it won't be good!”
The comments sharpened a threat made a day earlier by White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt, who said Trump was prepared to “unleash hell” if Iran refused to accept the deal. Leavitt said Iran had “just lost” and warned the regime “not to miscalculate,” saying continued resistance would bring heavy U.S. retaliation.
TRUMP VOWS TO HIT IRAN 'HARDLY' AFTER KILLING NEARLY '90 PERCENT' OF YOUTH
President Donald Trump joked that his 'military action' in Iran is not 'war,' because that requires congressional approval. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“President Trump is not fooling around, and he's willing to unleash hell,” Leavitt said at the start of a press conference at the White House on Wednesday. “Iran must not make another mistake. Its last miscalculation cost its top leadership, its navy, its air force and its air defense system.
“Any violence beyond this point will be because the Iranian regime has refused to understand that they have lost and they refuse to make a deal.”
Trump also lashed out at NATO, accusing members of the alliance of doing “nothing at all” to help deal with Iran as the conflict enters its fourth week.
“NATO nations have done nothing to help the insane, now war-torn nation, Iran,” Trump wrote in another Truth Social post. “The USA needs nothing from NATO, but 'never forget' this very important point in time!”
REVOLT IRAN VOWS TO FIGHT 'TO TOTAL VICTORY,' DESPITE HEAVY LOSS OF FACE
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt delivered a dire warning to Iran from President Donald Trump, perhaps frustrated by ongoing threats to the Middle East from the regime's remnants. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The back-breaking statements come as Trump's five-day deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz looms this weekend – as the administration tries to force Tehran to the table while pointing out that US military operations have severely weakened Iran's leadership, air defenses and naval capabilities.
At a Union Station fundraiser for the National Congressional Committee on Wednesday night, Trump joked that he should stop calling “military action” in Iran a “war,” because this requires congressional approval.
“I'm not going to use the word 'war' because they say if you use the word 'war,' maybe it's not a good thing to do,” Trump told a crowd of GOP lawmakers at a fundraiser dinner that raised a record-breaking $36.8 million for the NRCC, which seeks to fund moderate policies to help maintain the House GOP majority (417-2).
WATCH LEAVITT'S WARNING TO IRAN:
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“They don't like the word 'war' because you have to get permission. So, I'm going to use the word 'military operation', which is exactly what it is. Military extermination.”
