No one knows who will lead Iran after Khamenei, Trump says

President Trump said on Monday Iran turned down “unlimited, free nuclear fuel forever for civilian purposes” because it wanted a nuclear weapon, even after US strikes under Operation Midnight Hammer obliterated key sites.

“Even after we obliterated their key nuclear sites in operation, Midnight hammer, they never negotiated in good faith, they still continue to say, we want to build nuclear we want enrichment at levels that were unacceptable when they even turned down an offer for unlimited, free nuclear fuel forever for civilian purposes. We had people offering them free nuclear fuel. They weren't interested in that because they wanted to build a nuclear weapon, Trump said in a press conference.

“So instead, the regime was trying to reconstitute its weapons program at a different site. They couldn't go back to where they were the three sites that we obliterated, but they were starting work at another site, a different site, different kind of a site, and that was protected by granite. They wanted it protected. Granite is pretty good, but they wanted it protected by a lot deeper. They wanted to go a lot deeper. And they started the process while rapidly building conventional ballistic missiles. They were going to do it all at the same time that threatened our overseas bases, and soon could have reached even our homeland,” he added.

“The regime's intention was to use this exponentially growing ballistic missile threat to make it virtually impossible to prevent them from obtaining a nuclear weapon. So as you probably saw, they had a tremendous number of missiles, most of which had now being used or destroyed and very unsuccessfully used, because we have been able, for the most part, to shoot them all down,” Trump said.

Asked if he still considers helping people of Iran, Trump said: "I'd like to, if they can behave, but they've been very menacing. You know, they're great people. They have an amazing population. It's amazing, smart, brilliant, energetic. They have a great I'd love to help them, but they have to be in a system that allows them to be helped, and right now they're in a system that only allows failure."

"And I don't want that, and I want a system that's not going to be attacking us. We want a system that can lead to many years of peace, and if we can't have that, we might as well get it over with right now," he added.

President Trump said on Monday Washington will temporarily lift certain oil‑related sanctions on unnamed countries to help bring down prices, adding that some measures might not be reimposed if “there’ll be so much peace.”

"We're also waiving certain oil related sanctions to reduce prices. So we have sanctions on some countries. We're going to take those sanctions off till this straightens out, and who knows, maybe we won't have to put them on, Trump said during a press conference in Doral.

"There'll be so much peace. But when the time comes, the US Navy and its partners will escort tankers through the straight if needed, I hope it's not going to be needed, but if it's needed, We'll escort them right through," he added.

President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States is “more determined than ever” to push for what he called “ultimate victory” over Iran, adding that while America has “already won in many ways,” it still has “not won enough.”

"We've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough. We go forward more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory that will end this long running danger once and for all 47 years. It should have been done a long time ago. World would have been a different place had some president had the courage to go and do it," Trump said during a speech in Florida.

"They should have done it many, many times. They had many opportunities. The United States of America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in human history, and will not be threatened by evil terrorists and lunatics any longer," he added.

Trump said Iran had been preparing “within a week” to launch a major missile assault on the United States, Israel and “all of the Middle East,” and added that if Tehran had a nuclear weapon “they would have used it in Israel.

"I think they were looking to take over the Middle East. Because when you look, and we have pretty good proof, all of those missiles that were so stupidly aimed at Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, they were all aimed at others and countries that were sort of like, leave us alone," Trump said.

"Number one, if we didn't go in, they would have come in after us, because I see the Democrats trying to justify it, and they're failing, because the voter on the street is saying it got to be kidding, but I see where they go, whether they're always saying, no, no, there was no reason," he added.

"Well, I'll give you the best reason of all. Within a week, they were going to attack us. 100% they were ready. They had all these missiles, far more than anyone thought. And they were going to attack us, but they were going to attack all of the Middle East and Israel. And if they had a nuclear weapon, they would have used it in Israel, and this was going to be a major attack," Trump said.

The players – Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramezani-Zadeh and Mona Hamoudi –left the team’s hotel in the city of Gold Coast and are currently in a safe location. The development comes after days of tension surrounding the team during an Asian tournament in Australia.

The issue caught the attention of President Donald Trump who posted twice on Truth Social on Monday — first after learning that the players were seeking asylum following threats from senior Iranian officials, who warned them of harsh punishment for refusing to sing the Islamic Republic’s anthem.

Later, Trump confirmed he had spoken with Australia’s Prime Minister.

“I just spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia concerning the Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team,” Trump wrote. “He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way.”

In a heartfelt post, Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, shared photos with the football players on X and wrote that they are “welcome to stay in Australia to be safe and have a home here.”

The players were required to wear compulsory hijab during all public appearances while representing the national team.

Anthem protest triggered pressure and threats

The controversy surrounding the team began earlier in the tournament when members of the squad refused to sing the national anthem of the Islamic Republic before their first match against South Korea.

Images of the players and coaching staff standing silently during the anthem quickly spread on social media, with many interpreting the gesture as a protest against the government.

In their second match against Australia, however, the players were seen giving a military salute and singing the anthem after what reports described as threats and warnings from security officials accompanying the delegation.

An Iranian state television host later threatened the team on air, saying both the public and officials should treat them as “war-time traitors.”

Bus incident and support from Iranians abroad

Tensions escalated further after the team’s final match, when videos circulated online showing Iranians living in Australia attempting to stop the team bus as it left the stadium.

A witness told the Australian broadcaster SBS that several players had also remained seated on the field after the team’s final match against the Philippines and appeared reluctant to leave, raising concerns they were under pressure and did not want to return to Iran.

SBS earlier reported, citing two sources who visited the team’s hotel, that the players were under “very tight security measures” imposed by Iranian officials. The sources said authorities appeared concerned that some players might attempt to seek asylum.

Appeals for protection and uncertainty over return

The situation prompted appeals from activists and opposition figures who warned the players could face serious consequences if they return to Iran.

Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi wrote on X that members of Iran’s women’s national football team were under significant pressure and ongoing threats from the Islamic Republic because of their refusal to sing the anthem, urging the Australian government to ensure their safety and provide support.

Journalist and activist Masih Alinejad also called on Australia to protect the players, saying they faced potential danger if returned to Iran.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Iranian authorities had a record of harsh repression.

“We know this regime has brutally murdered many of its own people. We know this regime has brutally oppressed many Iranian women, and we stand in solidarity with the men and women of Iran, particularly Iranian women and girls,” she added.

Meanwhile, Iranian football officials say the team’s return has been complicated after flights back to Iran were canceled following recent regional tensions. Farideh Shojaei, head of the women’s team delegation, said officials are exploring alternative routes for the team’s return.

According to Shojaei, Iranian football authorities have been in talks with airlines and other officials to arrange a new travel route. Some federation officials have reportedly traveled to Turkey to coordinate possible transit arrangements, raising the possibility that the team could be flown to Turkey and then transported overland by bus to Iran.

Iran’s women’s national football team, which had traveled to Australia to compete in the tournament, was eventually eliminated from the competition. It remains unclear when the remaining members of the team will leave Australia.