US President Donald Trump posted a short message on Truth Social on May 18, warning Iran that time is running out and the country must act quickly or face complete annihilation. “For Iran, the clock is ticking. They must act now, FAST, or there will be nothing left of them. TIME IS MONEY!” Trump wrote.
This is not the first time the US leader has used strong language towards Iran. A day earlier, Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself standing on a warship with the caption: “It is the calm before the storm.”
The conflict between the US and Iran erupted on February 28, when Israel and the US launched simultaneous attacks on Iran. Since then, Trump has made a series of demands, including dismantling missile stockpiles, severing ties with regional allies, and ending Tehran’s uranium enrichment program.
On April 7, Trump sparked controversy by posting a threat to “wipe out all civilization” in Iran, which critics called a call for genocide. A few hours later, the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, but both sides accused each other of violating it.
Earlier, Trump threatened to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure such as power plants and bridges—actions legal experts said could violate the Geneva Conventions. In a Fox News interview, he also said Iranian officials would be “blown off the face of the earth” if they attacked US ships.
Iran has condemned these remarks and rejected US demands. The state-run Mehr news agency reported on May 18 that the US had offered “no real concessions” in its latest proposals, accusing Washington of seeking “to gain concessions it failed to achieve during the war,” leading to a deadlock in negotiations.
Iranian armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shakarchi warned the US: “Repeating any foolish action to compensate for the US disgrace in the third imposed war against Iran will only invite stronger and more severe attacks in return.”
Al Jazeera correspondent Almigdad Alruhaid in Tehran said Iran’s government does not accept threatening language from the US. “They respond with defiance, not immediate reaction. Behind the tough rhetoric is the realization that the diplomatic window is narrowing. Both sides’ fingers are on the trigger.”
Foreign policy analyst Adam Clements suggested there might be a “domestic element” in Trump’s statements. “President Trump is known for his hyperbolic tweets, which may be aimed at his domestic audience. Watch whether officials repeat that message and whether there is a corresponding increase in military activity. Sometimes we need to look beyond the political noise and pay attention to clear signals.”
