Trump Demands Iran Relent as US Aims to Calm Energy Markets

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he ordered his forces — who have gained expertise during the four-year-old Russian invasion — to help “guarantee the required security” in response to a US request to aid in protecting the Middle East against Iran’s Shahed drones. 

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NATO said it was boosting its missile defense posture following the downing on Wednesday of an Iranian missile heading toward Turkish airspace.

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Italy intends to send air-defense systems and counter-drone capabilities to the Gulf, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Thursday. South Korea said it’s in talks with the US about the possible redeployment of weapons, including Patriot air-defense systems. France has authorized US military support aircraft not involved in operations in Iran to use Istres Air Base, AFP reported. 

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The US-Israeli war has left at least 1,332 people dead in Iran so far, and dozens of others have been killed elsewhere in the region in retaliatory strikes. Six US troops were reported to have died. In all, around a dozen countries have been embroiled in the conflict. 

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Saudi Arabia stepped up direct engagement with Tehran in a bid to de-escalate tensions, according to several European officials. Separately, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned the US and Israel against waging an “endless war” that could lead to the disintegration of Iran, a new migration crisis in Europe and lasting economic damage. 

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Posting before Trump’s comments demanding surrender, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said some countries have initiated efforts for mediation. While the Islamic Republic is “committed to lasting peace,” it will continue to defend itself, he said. Earlier this week, Iran denied a report that its Ministry of Intelligence reached out to the US to negotiate a resolution.

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Trump vowed on Thursday to “totally demolish” Iranian forces, telling NBC he wanted to “clean out” Iran’s leadership structure and had names in mind to take over. That suggested the US sees regime change as the ultimate goal, after days of conflicting explanations for why it launched the war and how the administration saw it playing out.

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Later at the White House, Trump told reporters the US was doing very well in Iran, sinking ships at will and weakening Iran’s military capabilities. 

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Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said strikes have neutralized more than 60% of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers. Its navy has also suffered devastating losses.

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Iran’s drone and missile attacks have also stressed Israeli and Gulf air defenses across the region. Iran destroyed a key $300 million radar system in Jordan crucial to US missile defense in the early days of the conflict, according to a US official. 

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Iran is poised to elect a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28, the first day of the war. Mojtaba Khamenei, the slain leader’s second-oldest son, is in the running. Trump said he was a “lightweight” who wouldn’t change the regime’s policies and insisted on being personally involved in picking the country’s next leader.

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Airlines remain hamstrung by the conflict, with the number of canceled flights to Middle East hubs surpassing 27,000 since fighting began. Thousands of passengers remained stranded in the Gulf region, although on Friday Emirates said it’s aiming for a return to full network operations in coming days. 

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—With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron, Devika Krishna Kumar, Meghashyam Mali, Sebastian Tong and John Harney.

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(Updates with Trump post in ninth paragraph.)

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