President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Iran early Wednesday, warning the regime it “better get smart soon” as negotiations over a nonproliferation deal remain at a standstill. The president took to Truth Social to vent frustration, writing that Tehran “can’t get their act together” and doesn’t “know how to sign a nonnuclear deal.”
Alongside the message, Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself wearing sunglasses and carrying a machine gun, with explosions in the background and the caption, “No more Mr. Nice Guy!” The post comes less than a day after Trump claimed Iran had informed the U.S. that it is in a “State of Collapse” and requested the Navy reopen the Strait of Hormuz “as soon as possible.” He offered no further details about the source of that communication.
The U.S. Navy has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports for over two weeks, interdicting ships attempting to transit the critical oil waterway. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps initially restricted shipping in the strait in late February, following the first wave of U.S. and Israeli strikes more than 60 days ago. The standoff has rattled global energy markets and sent American gas prices soaring.
According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline hit nearly $4.23 on Wednesday, up more than five cents from the previous day. That marks the highest level since April 2022, when prices peaked at $4.11 amid the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The political pressure is mounting on the administration to resolve the crisis.
Over the weekend, Trump decided against dispatching special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan for a second round of peace talks with Iranian officials. Tehran had declined to meet directly with the U.S. delegation. The president convened his national security team on Monday, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly dismissed Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict.
Rubio told Fox News that Tehran’s plan would reopen the Strait of Hormuz but offered no concessions on its nuclear program. “There’s no doubt in my mind that at some point in the future, if this radical clerical regime remain in charge in Iran, they will decide they want a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said. “That fundamental issue still has to be confronted. That still remains the core issue here.”
The administration’s hardline stance has drawn both support and criticism. Some GOP senators have privately balked at the economic fallout, while the White House continues to project strength. Meanwhile, Trump has also claimed King Charles backs his Iran nuclear stance, a statement that defies the British monarch’s traditional neutrality.
As the standoff drags on, the Supreme Court is weighing the fate of 1.3 million TPS holders, adding another layer of political complexity to Trump’s broader agenda. But for now, the president’s focus remains on Tehran, with the clear message: get smart, or face the consequences.
