"Unconditional Surrender": Trump Makes a Dangerous Shift in the War Against Iran —
The New York Times reported that Trump stated he would not accept any other outcome than Iran's unconditional surrender. This is a new expansion of the conflict's objectives, which experts believe could potentially prolong the war indefinitely.
One week after the US-Israeli joint operation, Iran showed no willingness to surrender, instead expanding attacks on Arab countries with missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military bases. Trump continued to demand Iran's surrender on social media and promised that the U.S. and its allies would "unrelentingly work to keep Iran from the brink of destruction."
Helpers are in chaos
This statement by Trump reflects his attempt to combine American military power with personal influence to achieve regime change in hostile countries. His demands have already caused conflicting signals among White House aides and congressional allies. White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt clarified that the standard for "unconditional surrender" will be determined by Trump when he deems military objectives achieved.
Recently, the U.S. government's goals have changed multiple times: from regime change in Iran to destroying its nuclear program and missile potential. Trump compared Iran to Venezuela, saying that U.S. actions in Venezuela led to the installation of a leader who obeys the U.S.
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has set the goal of completely overthrowing the Iranian regime and permanently eliminating its nuclear program and missile arsenal. It remains unclear how Trump will respond if the Iranian government falls, or whether he will send ground forces into Iranian territory.
"A Epic Anger": What's Next
In fact, the idea of demanding "unconditional surrender" is similar to the seven-year occupation model of Japan after World War II. Experts point out that due to Iran's religious and ethnic diversity, implementing such policies in Iran would be more difficult.
Although Trump speaks strongly, international mediators are still seeking negotiation channels. Iranian President Pezeshkian said that several countries have proposed peace talks, and Oman, Egypt, and Turkey may play a role in mediating the conflict.
According to another report, Iranian President Pezeshkian said that if neighboring countries' territories are not used to attack Iran, Iran will no longer target these countries. He also apologized to neighboring countries for recent attacks.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859017022875660/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.