President Donald Trump used the global stage Thursday to send a pointed message to Iran’s leadership, signaling that he is willing to engage in talks even as he made clear there would be consequences if protesters were killed during recent unrest.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said he would accept Iran’s invitation to “talk,” striking a notably measured tone after weeks of escalating rhetoric. His comments came as demonstrations swept Iran amid a deepening economic crisis and reports of harsh crackdowns by regime forces.
Trump’s remarks coincided with the unveiling of a new international Board of Peace, which the administration described as an oversight body for the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The president framed the initiative as part of a broader push to stabilize volatile regions while maintaining pressure on hostile actors.
During his address, Trump repeated claims that he ended several wars during his first year back in office, while also highlighting decisive military actions he said were necessary to preserve peace. He pointed to U.S. strikes carried out last year against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, describing an operation he said destroyed the regime’s enrichment capabilities just as Tehran was nearing a nuclear threshold.
Trump said the strikes were precise and effective, carried out under cover of darkness by U.S. bombers, and aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He argued that allowing Tehran to reach that point would have posed an unacceptable threat to regional and global security.
Despite the show of force, Trump said Iran now wants to talk and that the United States is prepared to engage. “Iran does want to talk, and we’ll talk,” he said, underscoring what he portrayed as a strategy of strength paired with diplomacy.
The president’s comments marked a shift from his sharper language only days earlier, when he publicly called for new leadership in Iran and accused Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of driving the country toward ruin through extreme violence. Those remarks followed weeks of nationwide protests sparked by economic hardship, which drew international attention and condemnation.
At the beginning of January, Trump warned that the United States was “locked and loaded and ready to go” if Iranian authorities responded to demonstrations with indiscriminate killings. Reports from inside the country alleged mass bloodshed by paramilitary forces, intensifying pressure on the regime and raising fears of a broader confrontation.
Since then, however, the White House has eased back from the prospect of immediate military action. After Iranian officials indicated they would pause plans for mass executions of detainees, Trump stepped away from direct threats of strikes, signaling a willingness to give diplomacy a chance.
The pivot reflects Trump’s broader approach of pairing hard power with negotiation, projecting readiness to act while leaving the door open to talks if adversaries pull back from escalation. By choosing the Davos stage to deliver the message, Trump aimed it not only at Tehran but also at global leaders watching closely.
The moment underscored the administration’s attempt to balance deterrence and diplomacy, as Trump warned Iran’s rulers against further bloodshed while signaling that dialogue remains possible if the regime changes course.
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