By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Saturday sharply escalated his rhetoric on the Iran conflict, called it “treasonous” to suggest that the United States is not winning, even as he separately told lawmakers that hostilities with Tehran have “terminated”.
Trump labeled Iran war criticism “treasonous” while telling lawmakers hostilities have ended, even as he signals fresh action and expresses doubts over a possible deal with Tehran.
The remarks came when Washington is weighing its next steps in the West Asia conflict, with negotiations uncertain and military options still on the table, even as legal timelines around the war have come into focus.
Trump hit out at critics questioning the effectiveness of the US campaign.
“We get the radical left to say, ‘We’re not winning, we’re not winning.’ They don’t have any military left. It’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s actually, it’s actually, I believe it’s treasonous, okay. You want to know the truth, it’s treasonous.”
He asserted that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened.
“And Iran is getting decimated. They have no navy. They have no air force. They have no anti-aircraft equipment. They have no radar. They have no leaders; their leaders are all gone,” Trump said.
He linked the ongoing campaign to efforts to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, stated US action was necessary to protect the Gulf region and allies such as Israel. Referring to the use of B2 bombers, he said, “If we didn’t do that, they would’ve had a nuclear weapon. Israel, the Middle East, and Europe would have been blown to pieces.”
Trump suggested the operation was still unfinished. “We’re doing just about as well in Iran. But I don’t like talking about it until the jobs are finished,” he said, adding that the United States would not withdraw prematurely. “We’re not going to leave early and have this kind of problem arise in three more years.”
He told lawmakers that the war against Iran had “terminated”, cited the end of active hostilities in contrast to his remarks defending the ongoing campaign,.
“There has been no exchange of fire between the United States and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Trump was quoted as saying in a letter to congressional leaders. “The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated.”
According to reports, the communication coincides with the 60-day deadline under the War Powers Resolution, which requires the President to end military action unless Congress authorizes its continuation.
Trump made it clear that the broader conflict remains unresolved, expressing dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest proposal to end the standoff.
“They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens,” he told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House.
He also pointed to divisions within Iran’s leadership as a factor complicating negotiations. “The leadership is very disjointed. It’s got two to three groups, maybe four, and it’s a very disjointed leadership. And with that being said, they all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up,” Trump said.
Trump outlined the choices before Washington the US President framed a stark decision between diplomacy and escalation.
“Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever? Or do we want to try and make a deal. That’s the options,” he said, adding, “On a human basis, I’d prefer not.”
