'Iran is finished': Trump says Tehran came begging and won't get even '10 cents'

President Trump faced growing domestic scrutiny and claimed that a crippled Tehran accepted the maritime truce out of desperation
President Donald Trump defended the Iran framework's enforcement provisions as administration officials prepared for the next phase of negotiations in Geneva (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump defended the Iran framework's enforcement provisions as administration officials prepared for the next phase of negotiations in Geneva (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald J Trump has launched a fierce rhetorical offensive to defend his administration's newly disclosed Middle East peace framework, flatly denying that the Islamic Republic of Iran will receive immediate financial windfalls.

Writing on Truth Social just hours after a senior official leaked the precise 14-point memorandum of understanding, Trump sought to reclaim the narrative from domestic defense hawks by asserting that the 100-day war has left Iran militarily devastated and entirely incapable of dictating terms.

The aggressive pushback directly addresses growing political blowback over leaked provisions detailing future energy waivers, unblocked shipping corridors, and access to frozen assets.



Bypassing the measured tone of his State Department negotiators, Trump drew a strict line regarding the pact's financial parameters, declaring that the regime remains finished and will receive no immediate capital injections during the upcoming 60-day negotiation window.

By portraying Tehran as a defeated entity rather than an equal diplomatic partner, the White House is attempting to neutralize bipartisan criticism before formal technical-level talks begin in Switzerland.

Executive claims adversary military infrastructure neutralized



"We didn’t meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are FINISHED!" Trump announced, seeking to minimize the scope of American concessions.

The president explicitly rejected assertions by congressional opponents that the maritime truce leaves Iran in a stronger position than it was prior to the February military escalation.

Trump maintained that the multi-front aerial campaign has successfully compromised the regime's core defense assets.

According to his digital briefing, continuous operations have effectively stripped Tehran of its functional air force, naval vessels, radar installations, and conventional anti-aircraft equipment, leaving the state with zero leverage to contest compliance audits.

Financial incentives remain frozen pending compliance

A patrol boat moves through the water as cargo ships sit at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Saturday, May 2, 2026.(Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)
A patrol boat moves through the water as cargo ships sit at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Saturday, May 2, 2026 (Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)

Turning directly to the economic components of the leaked text, Trump insisted that strict conditionalities govern all potential benefits.

Despite provisions allowing for the restoration of pre-war merchant vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the president vowed that no cash distributions will materialize until a permanent nuclear treaty is finalized.

"They get no money, not ten cents! We’ll play out the 60 days," Trump added, clarifying that the temporary maritime waivers are merely a pathway toward comprehensive disarmament rather than an active bailout.

With Vice President JD Vance arriving in Geneva to anchor the administrative transition, the White House is signaling that the implementation of trade relief will remain completely paused until international teams verify the absolute dismantling of Iran's remaining enriched atomic stockpiles.

RELATED TOPICS US STRIKES IRAN

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Former President George W Bush urged Americans to recognize how conflicts abroad can affect US security, reflecting on Afghanistan and the post-9/11 response
23 minutes ago
Robert F Kennedy Jr said mainstream media claims about Donald Trump were 'a lie,' drawing a standing ovation at the Republican convention
1 hour ago
JD Vance targeted James Talarico over his views on gender and Christianity while rallying Texas Republicans behind Ken Paxton
2 hours ago
Vice President JD Vance redirected his remarks to American identity and the 2026 midterms after the interruption at the Dallas convention
2 hours ago
JD Vance's remarks came amid a broader focus at the Republican midterm convention on family policy and cultural issues
3 hours ago
Donald Trump urged supporters to vote Republican, warning, 'You go to hell' if they don't vote and vowing, 'together we will defeat the communists'
3 hours ago
House Speaker Mike Johnson recalled John Quincy Adams' return to the House and linked his story to Republican duty and perseverance
3 hours ago
JD Vance said the admin identified $250 billion in fraud under Trump, including fraud targeting programs for homeless people and expectant mothers
4 hours ago
Robert F Kennedy Jr said Democrats had lost touch with working Americans and become aligned with powerful institutions and industries
5 hours ago
Trump even suggested that his administration may not require congressional approval for the plan because 'we’ve made so much money'
5 hours ago