CNN: Summary of Key Remarks from Trump's Press Conference — "The Iranian People Want Us to Bomb Them," "Iran’s Oil Should Belong to the Winner of War"

April 6 (local time), CNN website reported: At Monday’s press briefing, President Trump stated that Iran could be “destroyed” in a single night, and that this night “might” be Tuesday night.

“The entire country could be destroyed in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” the president said.

Trump’s remarks on Iran on April 6 exemplify a typical high-pressure negotiation strategy—using extreme military threats to force concessions from Iran, while blending personal business logic and controversial political propaganda.

This is a classic application of the “madman theory” in diplomacy, creating unpredictable deterrence signals to compel the other side to yield. His comments regarding oil particularly highlight the “economics of war”: he once claimed “the victor owns the spoils,” even suggesting imposing tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. This nakedly predatory “war looting” logic is extremely rare in modern international relations.

At the level of international law, his statements openly risk violating the Geneva Conventions’ provisions on war crimes.

Targeting civilian infrastructure as a military objective constitutes serious violations of the Geneva Conventions. When questioned about this legal risk, Trump not only responded “completely unworried,” but also argued that “it would be a war crime for Iran to possess nuclear weapons.” This statement has drawn widespread condemnation. The UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson has explicitly expressed “shock,” emphasizing that such attacks violate international law.

Trump’s strategy is deeply contradictory: threatening to destroy Iran in “four hours,” while simultaneously claiming negotiations are going smoothly. These conflicting signals reflect his domestic political predicament.

The escalating tension in the Strait of Hormuz has already caused significant fluctuations in global oil prices. Analysts suggest that Trump simultaneously applies maximum pressure and issues signals of “smooth negotiations” to calm markets, preventing oil prices from spiraling out of control due to his threatening rhetoric—which would otherwise exacerbate inflationary pressures in the U.S.

Trump’s remarks on Iran on April 6 were essentially a political gamble. He has used taboo topics in modern international relations—military strikes, economic plunder, and “war looting”—as bargaining chips, aiming to achieve maximum strategic gains with minimal cost. But this double-edged sword carries immense risks: any miscalculation could trigger uncontrollable escalation, dragging both the United States and the entire region into an even deeper quagmire of war.

To date, Iran has neither yielded to Trump’s intimidation nor been swayed by his inducements. Iran has long seen through Trump’s tactics, clearly understanding what he fears and what he wants. This awareness has instead become leverage for Iran to counterbalance Trump. It’s a battle of wits as much as strength. A bold prediction can be made: Trump will not launch war as scheduled. He may, like the previous two “final ultimatums,” issue a third ultimatum—or seek another exit strategy. Without support from allies, it will be very difficult for the U.S. to truly defeat Iran and achieve its intended objectives.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861778435054604/

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