‘They Better Behave’: Trump Says Iran Wants Settlement Amid Fresh US Strikes
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is signalling a willingness to negotiate an end to the escalating conflict, but warned that Tehran must first change its conduct. Speaking after authorising a fresh round of military strikes, Trump declared, “They want a settlement… they better behave,” underscoring Washington’s hardening stance even as diplomatic prospects remain uncertain.
Trump’s remarks came as US forces carried out new attacks on Iranian military infrastructure, including missile launch sites, coastal defence systems and other strategic positions. The strikes are part of an intensified campaign aimed at weakening Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and target US interests across the region.
According to the White House, Iran has conveyed through intermediaries that it is interested in a negotiated settlement. Trump also pointed to the recent release of an American citizen detained in Iran as what he described as a “gesture of goodwill.” However, he insisted that Washington would not ease military pressure unless Tehran demonstrates a sustained commitment to de-escalation.
The latest strikes reportedly targeted military facilities around Tehran, Bandar Abbas and other strategic locations, while US naval operations in the Persian Gulf continued to enforce restrictions on shipping linked to Iran. Officials maintain that the operations are intended to protect international maritime traffic and deter further Iranian attacks.
Iran, meanwhile, has condemned the attacks as acts of aggression and warned that continued US military action will be met with a stronger response. Iranian officials have reiterated that any negotiations must respect the country’s sovereignty and security interests, while accusing Washington of undermining regional stability through military escalation.
The renewed confrontation has heightened concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Shipping companies remain on high alert, and energy markets have reacted nervously amid fears that prolonged hostilities could disrupt global crude supplies and push oil prices higher.
Diplomatic channels remain open despite the fighting, but the gap between the two sides remains substantial. While Trump has suggested that a settlement is possible if Iran “behaves,” Tehran continues to insist that any meaningful negotiations can only take place after military pressure ceases. As both countries combine battlefield operations with political messaging, the coming days are expected to be crucial in determining whether the crisis moves towards diplomacy or a wider regional conflict.
