Trump urges Iran to wave ‘white flag’ as ceasefire expires
Ceasefire talks are approaching a pivotal moment as the 60-day U.S.-Iran agreement formally reaches its deadline. Reporting from Tel Aviv, chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst described rising geopolitical strain around the Strait of Hormuz, while President Donald Trump urged Iran to capitulate, saying Tehran should “put up the white flag.”
The ceasefire deadline expires Monday, but Trump made clear his commitment to blocking Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions remains unchanged. Speaking to Fox News on Monday morning, the president also confirmed the existence of a backchannel for peace discussions with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“They should put up the white flag of surrender,” Trump said during a phone interview, acknowledging reports that the IRGC talks are taking place outside the usual channels of mediators and Iranian political leaders.
Although the 60-day ceasefire runs out Monday, Trump said a diplomatic opening still exists if Iran agrees to his central demand. “The number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon,” he wrote on Truth Social around the time of his exclusive call with Fox News’ Trey Yingst.
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President Donald Trump spoke exclusively with Fox News’ Trey Yingst on Monday morning, confirming reports of a backchannel to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as Iran’s political leadership faces deep fractures. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
“I have no time schedule,” Trump told Yingst. “I’m not in a hurry.”
Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration over efforts to negotiate peace with a divided Iranian regime, particularly after previous strikes killed figures across multiple layers of its leadership. Still, he confirmed that U.S. officials are now in direct contact with IRGC representatives through a private backchannel.
“They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” Trump said.
While speculation swirls Iran is engaging in its decades-long strategy of running out the political clock on Trump, before the midterms, if not 2028, Trump rejected the suggestion that politics is guiding his military strategy as commander in chief.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long maintained a strong relationship with President Donald Trump, who stopped short of saying he will get his endorsement in his bid for reelection in Israel. (Getty Images)
“Midterms have nothing to do with my thinking,” he told Yingst.
Trump also issued an extraordinary warning to Oman when asked about the Gulf nation’s role in talks involving Iran.
“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s— out of them,” Trump said.
The president then turned to Israel, where he said he believes it would be most appropriate for him to remain on the sidelines of the country’s elections — while simultaneously leaving open the possibility that he could back a candidate.
“I think it’s most appropriate for me to stay out of Israeli elections, but I may endorse somebody,” Trump said.
Trump also said Israel should not be carrying out strikes in Gaza, as efforts continue to advance the next phase of a plan that would include the disarmament of Hamas.
“We have our own relationship with Hamas,” Trump said. “They are giving up their guns.”
Despite Israel’s rejection of trusting the Hamas terrorist group, Trump suggested he could work peace both with a disarming Hamas and Israel.
“They fight well with us,” Trump reiterated to Yingst.
Trump also pushed back on concerns over the strain the conflict might be placing on U.S. weapons stockpiles, playing down the amount of American firepower used so far.
“What we’ve used is peanuts,” Trump said. “We have a lot of mid-level weapons.”
