President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that Iran was “not ready to make a deal” over its nuclear programme despite sustained military pressure, while asserting that Tehran continued to shift its negotiating position and that Washington remained firmly committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Trump made the remarks at a campaign-style rally in Georgia, hours after attending a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for four US service members killed in the conflict with Iran.

Trump's Assessment of Iran's Position

“They’re getting hit so hard, and they want to make a deal. But I say, they’re not ready to make a deal because every time they make a deal, they want to change it and everything. They’re not ready. They’ll be ready very soon,” Trump said at the rally.

Trump characterised the ongoing military confrontation as a “skirmish,” insisting it had not dented domestic economic confidence. “The stock market has hit 73 all-time highs since the election,” he said, linking continued market performance to what he described as American resilience amid the standoff.

Nuclear Red Line and the Strait of Hormuz

Reiterating a long-standing US position, Trump said his administration would not permit Tehran to develop nuclear weapons under any circumstances. “We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he said, connecting the military posture to broader concerns about energy security and the Strait of Hormuz — the critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of globally traded crude oil passes.

Trump argued that expanded oil output from the United States and Venezuela had reduced American dependence on the strait. “If you combine us and Venezuela, we have about 62 per cent of the world’s oil market, so we don’t need straits, we don’t need anything,” he said, though he added that Washington would act regardless to block Iranian nuclear ambitions.

Tribute to Fallen Soldiers

Before travelling to Georgia, Trump attended the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for four US service members killed in the conflict with Iran. He recounted meeting the family of one of the fallen, Lieutenant Tyler Feehan, and said he had invited them to fly aboard Air Force One to Georgia after learning they lived near the rally venue.

“I just want to thank Tyler’s mother Shari, his father Stephen, and his uncle David,” Trump said. “We will carry Tyler’s memory in our hearts forever.”

Crackdown on Protesters

Trump also accused Iranian authorities of carrying out widespread repression, claiming that 52,000 protesters had been killed over the preceding 12 months. “You know, they’ve killed 52,000 plus protesters — people that were protesting have been killed, 52,000 over the last 12 months,” he said, adding that the issue had received little media coverage. The figure could not be independently verified.

What This Means for India and the Region

The remarks come as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to shape security calculations across West Asia. Any disruption to Hormuz shipping lanes carries significant consequences for international energy markets. India, one of the world’s largest crude oil importers, closely monitors developments in the Gulf given their direct impact on oil supplies, shipping costs, and domestic inflation. With Trump signalling that a deal could materialise “very soon,” diplomatic channels are likely to intensify in the weeks ahead.