Trump Says ‘Iran Took a Big Hit,’ Urges Peace Deal With Israel as Tehran Rejects Outreach

Key Facts

Published: October 14, 2025 Location: Jerusalem / Tehran / Washington Source: Times of Israel, Washington Times, Newsweek, X

• Trump says Iran “took a big hit” and hints at possible peace with Israel
• Iran rejects U.S. outreach, calling Trump “a President of War”
• Tehran accuses Washington of terrorism and glorifies slain commander Soleimani
• Trump warns: “We won’t wait so long” if Iran resumes nuclear activity

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

JERUSALEM / TEHRAN (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump said this week that Iran “took a big hit” following devastating U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on its nuclear facilities in June but added that peace between Iran and Israel “would be great” if it could be achieved.

Speaking before the Israeli Knesset, Trump said, “Didn’t they take a big hit? Boy oh boy,” as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nodded beside him. “It would be nice if we could make peace with Iran. I think they’re tired,” he added.

The president said Iran was not attempting to restart its nuclear program after the June strikes. “The last thing they want to do is start digging holes again in mountains that just got blown up. They want to survive, OK?” he said. Trump declared his administration could “get that deal done easy, but first we have to get Russia done,” but noted, “first we have to get Russia done,” referencing his parallel peace initiative to end the war in Ukraine.

He also praised efforts by Lebanon’s new government to dismantle Hezbollah’s military wing, saying the group’s “dagger aimed at Israel’s throat has been totally shattered.” Trump said he supports Lebanon’s goal to “build a thriving state at peace with its neighbors.”

Iran Denounces ‘President of War’

Tehran, however, dismissed Trump’s remarks, accusing him of hypocrisy and aggression.

“Iran would be wary of entering formal diplomatic talks with Washington after Mr. Trump directed airstrikes on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X.

“There is also the question of how the Iranian Nation can be expected to give any credence to an olive branch extended by the very same hand that was involved in the bombardment of homes and offices across Iran only four months ago,” Araghchi wrote. “Mr. Trump can either be a President of Peace or a President of War, but he cannot be both.”

Iran’s top diplomat further accused Trump of being “misled by Israeli intelligence” into launching the June strikes. U.S. and Israeli officials maintain those strikes were necessary to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which they say were “dangerously close” to achieving weapons-grade capability. Tehran insists its nuclear work is purely civilian.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry: ‘Baseless and Shameful’

In a separate statement, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Trump’s Knesset speech “baseless, irresponsible, and shameful,” accusing the U.S. of being “the largest producer of terrorism in the world.”

“The Iranian people, with deep respect for the eternal hero of Iran and the region, Martyr General Qassem Soleimani–who played a decisive role in combating terrorism produced by America and ISIS–neither forgive nor forget the American war criminals and their accomplices in that terrorist act,” the statement said, referring to Trump’s 2020 order to assassinate Soleimani.

“The Ministry reiterates that repeating false claims about Iran’s peaceful nuclear program cannot justify the joint crimes, aggressions, and assassinations committed by the United States and the Zionist regime,” it added.

Trump’s Message to Tehran

Despite the fiery exchanges, Trump said he bears no animosity toward the Iranian people. “We merely want to live in peace. We don’t want any looming threats over our heads. And we don’t want to even think in terms of nuclear destruction. It’s not going to happen. Never will happen,” he told Israeli lawmakers.

Addressing Tehran directly, he said: “We are ready when you are, and it will be the best decision that Iran has ever made. And it’s going to happen.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said neither he nor President Masoud Pezeshkian would attend Trump’s upcoming peace conference in Egypt. “While favoring diplomatic engagement, neither President Pezeshkian nor I can engage with counterparts who have attacked the Iranian people and continue to threaten and sanction us,” he said.

Trump’s Warning Last Week

Just days before his visit to Israel, President Trump issued a warning to Tehran that the U.S. would not hesitate to act again if Iran attempted to revive its nuclear program.

Speaking at a U.S. Navy event in Virginia, Trump said:

“Iran might renew its nuclear weapons, but I hope it won’t. If that decision is made, we will address it promptly. The U.S. won’t wait so long before acting if Iran rebuilds its nuclear infrastructure.”

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