Trump demands Iran’s surrender despite mediation claim

US leader’s remarks come hours after Iranian president claims some mediation efforts are under way Donald Trump has demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”, only hours after the country’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, claimed some mediation efforts to end the war were under way. The US president’s remarks on Friday hit European stock markets, which were already suffering after a warning from Qatar that a prolonged shutdown of gas production could drive oil to more than $150 a barrel. It was $90 on Friday. Inside Iran, the main reformist group issued a statement urging the political elite to appoint a new supreme leader – following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – who would signal Iran was willing to change course. Trump’s comments on social media appeared to undercut any return to diplomacy in the short term, indicating that the potential shocks to global energy markets were not prompting him to seek a settlement. “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” the US president wrote. “After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work t