The latest truth Experts say the social posts were made during a period of “delicate diplomacy” between the US and Iran that hinted at progress in talks.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump posted a photo of the U.S. flag covering a map of Iran with the question, “The United States of the Middle East?”
Experts said Saturday’s Truth Social post represents another potentially inflammatory message from President Trump amid ongoing negotiations for a more permanent ceasefire in the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
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Given past U.S. interventions in the Middle East, particularly during the U.S. invasion of Iraq from 2003 to 2011, and the Trump administration’s push to expand its influence abroad, this policy has the potential to confuse regional allies and adversaries alike.
This sentiment also appears to contradict the Trump administration’s repeated statements that it is not seeking a long-term occupation of Iran. The United States does not seek a complete regime change in the war it began alongside Israel on February 28, but insists it welcomes such a change as a byproduct of military operations.
Vali Nasr, a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University, said the post could have an impact on ongoing negotiations aimed at making the ceasefire more permanent, even though the president is known for outlandish social media posts and contradictory messages about the war.
He noted that in early April, President Trump threatened at the time that “an entire civilization would perish” if Iran did not agree to the deal. After several hours, both sides agreed to a temporary cessation of fighting.
Since then, that moratorium has remained in place, with the United States continuing to blockade Iranian ports and the Iranian government effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, with the exception of a few flare-ups.
“First he declared that he wanted to eradicate Iranian civilization, and now he has declared that he wants to make Iran the property of America,” Nasr wrote to X.
He added: “This kind of grotesque act undermines diplomacy and unites the Iranian people in defense of the country.” “In the midst of delicate diplomacy, he is raising questions about America’s true intentions.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Unstable negotiations continue
On Saturday, both U.S. and Iranian officials suggested a new deal could be within reach.
President Trump told CBS News that the two sides are “very close.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an update could be released soon, the broadcaster said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghai said the two countries are currently working toward finalizing the memorandum of understanding and that “views are converging.”
Still, there is still no official announcement on key sticking points in the conflict, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program, the fate of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, and future implications for the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump regularly uses his Truth Social account (now known as X), which he launched after being briefly banned from Twitter after the 2020 election, to make big announcements, attack political opponents, and post AI-generated images and videos.
His second term in foreign policy has been defined by efforts to expand U.S. influence abroad, particularly in the Americas. These include the military abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, continued threats against Cuba, and a pledge to seize control of Denmark’s semi-autonomous territory of Greenland in the North Atlantic.
The Trump administration adopted the term “Donroe Doctrine” after the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, which sought to reduce European influence in the Western Hemisphere.
On Saturday, President Trump also posted an image of himself peering over a mountain range in Greenland.
“Hello, Greenland!” I said.
