Washington, DC – President Donald Trump posted a photo of the US flag covering Iran's map on his Truth Social platform Saturday, asking: 'United States of the Middle East?'
Experts say the post represents another potentially incendiary message from Trump amid ongoing negotiations for a more lasting ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iran.
It risks upsetting both regional allies and adversaries, given Washington's history of intervention in the Middle East, notably the 2003-2011 Iraq invasion, and the Trump regime's push to expand its influence abroad.
The sentiment appears to contradict the Trump regime's repeated claims that it does not seek a prolonged occupation of Iran. The US has maintained it is not pursuing outright regime change in the war launched alongside Israel on February 28, but would welcome such change as a byproduct of the military campaign.
Even for a president known for outlandish social media posts and conflicting war messaging, the post could impact negotiations for a lasting ceasefire, according to Vali Nasr, professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University.
He recalled Trump's early April threat that an 'entire civilisation will die' if Iran did not agree to a deal. Hours later, both sides agreed to a pause in fighting.
That pause has largely held, barring minor flare-ups, with the US continuing to blockade Iranian ports and Tehran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz.
'First he declared he wanted to eradicate Iran's civilisation, now he is declaring that he wants to turn Iran into an American property,' Nasr wrote on X. 'It is this kind of grotesque behaviour that undermines diplomacy and unites Iranians in defence of their country. In the middle of delicate diplomacy he casts doubts on America's true intentions.'
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Saturday, both US and Iranian officials indicated a new deal may be within reach. Trump told CBS News both sides were 'getting a lot closer'. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an update could come shortly.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the two sides were 'currently working to finalise' a memorandum of understanding, and that 'the opinions have been converging'.
Still, no official announcements have been made on key sticking points, including Iran's nuclear program, its highly enriched uranium stockpile, and its future influence over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump regularly uses Truth Social for major announcements, attacking political enemies, and posting AI-generated images.
His second term's foreign policy has focused on expanding US influence abroad, particularly in the Americas. This includes the military abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, continued threats against Cuba, and vows to take control of Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory in the North Atlantic.
The Trump regime has adopted the term 'Donroe Doctrine', a reference to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, which sought to diminish European influence in the Western Hemisphere.
On Saturday, Trump also posted an image of his face peering over a mountain range in Greenland, captioned: 'Hello, Greenland!'
Source: www.aljazeera.com