President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social an image of the U.S. flag covering the entire map of Iran alongside the text: “United States of the Middle East?”
The Saturday (May 23) post was assessed by experts as a potentially inflammatory message, as negotiations toward a longer ceasefire in the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict remain underway.
The move risks jolting both allies and rivals in the region, especially given Washington’s history of military intervention in the Middle East, notably the 2003-2011 invasion of Iraq, and the Trump administration’s efforts to expand influence abroad.
The message appears to contradict earlier Trump administration statements that it does not seek a prolonged occupation of Iran. The U.S. insists it does not pursue regime change, but would welcome it if it occurs as a consequence of military operations.
Professor Vali Nasr, an expert in international relations and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University, commented: “Earlier he said he wanted to wipe out Iranian civilization, now he says he wants to turn Iran into a U.S. possession. This is bizarre behavior that undermines diplomacy and unites Iranians to defend their country.”
In early April, Trump threatened that “an entire civilization will die” if Iran did not reach a deal at that time. Hours later, both sides agreed to a temporary halt in fighting. That ceasefire has held, despite some sporadic outbreaks, while the U.S. continues to blockade Iranian ports and Tehran closes the Strait of Hormuz.
Over the weekend, both U.S. and Iranian officials indicated a new deal could be near. Trump told CBS News the two sides “are getting very close.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an update might come soon. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said both sides “are working to finalize a memorandum of understanding” and “views are converging.”
However, no official announcements have been made on key sticking points, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program, the fate of highly enriched uranium stockpiles, and Tehran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump frequently uses his Truth Social account to make major announcements, attack political rivals, and post AI-generated images and videos. His second-term foreign policy focuses on expanding U.S. influence, particularly in the Americas, including the abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, threats of military action against Cuba, and claims to control Greenland.
On the same day, Trump also posted an image of his face looking down at a mountain range in Greenland with the caption: “Hello, Greenland!”
