Trump Demands Iran Dismantle Nuclear Program His Withdrawal From Deal Enabled
Trump set an 8pm Tuesday deadline for Iran to eliminate its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening strikes on power plants and bridges if Tehran refuses [1]. The demand contains a mechanism problem: Iran only possesses the half-tonne of uranium enriched to 60% purity because Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, which had limited enrichment to 3.67% and required Iran to send 11 tonnes of modestly enriched uranium to Russia [2]. The president is now threatening war over a nuclear capability his own policy decision created.
Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran must agree never to have a nuclear weapon, open the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, eliminate mines in the waterway, and allow the US to destroy highly enriched uranium from an Iranian nuclear site [1]. When Brent crude passed $90 per barrel, he escalated to demanding "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" [1]. By Saturday, Iran had fully closed the strait again after determining Trump was not lifting the blockade [1].
The Economic Toll Breaks Congressional Support
Gas prices averaging $4.24 per gallon nationwide, nearly $6 in California, have turned Trump's Iran operation into a political liability [2]. About two-thirds of Americans told Reuters/Ipsos that rising gas prices had hurt their household finances [2]. Moody's Analytics estimates the conflict has cost US households roughly $100 billion in aggregate through higher energy costs [2].
Trump called a House vote "unpatriotic" on Truth Social and blamed it on "Trump Derangement Syndrome" [2]. A May Economist/YouGov survey found 59% disapproved of Trump's handling of Iran, while only 31% approved [2].
Contradictory Endgames
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, told Congress that Operation Epic Fury had "concluded" [2]. On the same day, Trump said he told military leaders "to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment's notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached" [1]. He warned Iran the "clock is ticking" and stated "They better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them" on Truth Social [1]. The operation has simultaneously concluded and remains ready to restart instantly.
Trump claimed Friday he could approve an Iran peace deal containing major Iranian concessions including opening the Strait of Hormuz and eliminating Iran's nuclear program [1]. He said Operation Epic Fury would come to an end "assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to" [1].
The Self-Inflicted Crisis
Trump abruptly ended negotiations with Iran in February in favor of war [2]. The killing of Iranian leaders, including former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, followed [2]. The humanitarian cost has pushed 45 million people toward starvation, according to previous Guardian reporting [4].
Trump withdrew from the diplomatic framework that constrained Iran's enrichment in 2018, vowing to pressure Iran into a better deal [2]. No better deal materialized. Instead, Iran built the nuclear capability Trump now demands it surrender.
