Trump Says Military Pressure Forced Iran Back To The Table: 'They've Taken A Pounding'

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 02:19 IST

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said Iran's willingness to engage seriously in negotiations followed days of sustained military pressure.

US President Donald Trump argued that recent US military action against Iran had succeeded in pushing Tehran toward a peace agreement, claiming the country’s leaders now want a deal more urgently than Washington does. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said Iran’s willingness to engage seriously in negotiations followed days of sustained military pressure, which he described as decisive in changing Tehran’s calculations.

“They’ve taken a pounding, they’ve taken a pounding like very few people could take, and they want to make the deal a lot more than I do," Trump said. The comments came as Trump continued to portray a diplomatic breakthrough as imminent, after earlier announcing that he had cancelled planned strikes against Iran because negotiations were nearing a conclusion.

Why Does Trump Think Iran Is Ready To Make A Deal?

According to Trump, recent military operations convinced Iranian leaders that continuing the conflict was unsustainable. The US President said American forces had carried out intensive strikes over the past several days and had prepared even larger attacks for Thursday night before deciding not to proceed.

“They got hit very hard recently, as you know, and I don’t like to have to do things that way, but I felt it was necessary," Trump said. Trump argued that the military campaign created the conditions for progress in negotiations, allowing both sides to move closer to an agreement centered on Iran’s nuclear programme and broader security concerns.

Why Were Planned Strikes Cancelled?

Trump said attacks scheduled for Thursday night were called off because negotiators were close to reaching an agreement. The US President revealed that the United States had informed Iran about the nature of the planned military action before ultimately deciding not to carry it out.

“We were hitting them very hard for the last three days, we had them even harder tonight," Trump said, adding, “There wasn’t a thing they could have done about it, and we won this war militarily very early on."

The comments echoed Trump’s earlier Truth Social post, in which he announced that scheduled strikes and bombings had been cancelled because discussions had reached an advanced stage.

What Happens Next?

Trump has indicated that documents related to the agreement are in near-final form and suggested a signing ceremony could take place soon, possibly in Europe. He has also said the US naval blockade targeting Iranian ports would be lifted immediately once the deal is formally signed.

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