Trump: US must 'finish up' war with Iran the 'nice way or the not-so-nice way'

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States must complete its war with Iran, stating that Washington would soon decide whether to bring the conflict to an end peacefully or not. During a speech at an Anduril Industries event in Maryland on October 6, 2026, Trump expressed that the American military had effectively neutralized Iran's capabilities, describing the nation as "shot" and "not so much the bully anymore."

He gave a choice between a diplomatic settlement or an intensified military campaign, implying an upcoming decision between diplomacy or force.

Trump claimed that Iranian leadership was unclear, as successive tiers of leadership had been eliminated, and nobody knew who was currently running the country. He also mentioned that Iran was not ready for talks, although Tehran had offered seven conditions for negotiations, waiting for a response from the U.S. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei rebutted Trump's comments, stating that Washington knows how Iran's decision-making structure works and that the U.S. should stop making contradictory positions and mixed messaging.

The war has caused energy prices to surge globally, adding political pressure ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that Iran must significantly reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity to satisfy Washington's demands and achieve a permanent ceasefire. So far, both nations have exchanged diplomatic proposals targeting an end to hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but Trump has rejected Iran's latest proposal as insufficient.