Donald Trump: if the Islamic Republic does not change course, we will finish the job

US President Donald Trump warned on Sunday, 18 October 2026, in a message on the social network Truth Social, that if the Islamic Republic does not change course, the United States will soon finish the job. In the same message he declared his full and unconditional support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the country's upcoming election.

In the message, Trump called the Islamic Republic a longtime enemy and said its military and financial strength has been badly damaged. He described Netanyahu as a warrior leader who has grown stronger despite opposition, even inside Israel, and said that if Israel had another leader, the United States would have had to do this job itself.

Reaction from Islamic Republic officials

Mohammadreza Naghdi, an adviser to the IRGC commander-in-chief, called Trump's remarks an admission of defeat and threatened energy facilities and investments in the region. Hamidreza Hajibabaei, a member of the Islamic Republic's parliament, also claimed that America's heavy bombs would be answered with bigger missiles.

The threats came on the same day that Mehrdad Akhlaghi, the Islamic Republic's new defence minister, threatened US forces and told them to leave the region. The experience of recent months has shown that the threats of Islamic Republic officials, above all, put the cost of war on the shoulders of the people of Iran and neighbouring countries.

Background: signs of resumed attacks

Trump's message comes after several days of matching statements from Washington and Jerusalem. Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz had said he was ready to resume attacks with full force, and US Vice President JD Vance has asked the Islamic Republic for a verifiable commitment not to rebuild its nuclear programme. Benjamin Netanyahu has also said in recent days that the only way is for the Islamic Republic to go.

At the same time, talks between the United States and the Islamic Republic on reopening the Strait of Hormuz have produced no result, and the US naval blockade has effectively halted the Islamic Republic's oil exports.

Trump: if the Islamic Republic does not change course, America will soon finish the job.