Trump Demands Peace Talks While Deploying Troops Like It's Black Friday

KEY POINTS

•Iranian officials told Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey they feel tricked twice by Trump’s peace talk proposals amid military action.
•US pushed for peace talks in Islamabad for Thursday while simultaneously sending thousands of troops and fighter jets to the Middle East.
•Trump touted a mysterious Iranian 'oil and gas' gift as trust-building despite Defense Secretary Hegseth insisting, 'We negotiate with bombs.'

In a reality sitcom no one asked for, President Trump has convinced Iran they're walking into peace talks while sending thousands of troops, fighter squadrons, and a Marine expeditionary unit to turn the Middle East into a military-themed escape room. Iran’s tired of getting played after surprise attacks last June and March, both backed by Trump, proving negotiation means 'we bring bombs as gifts.' The peace talks are set for Islamabad Thursday, featuring VP Vance, touted by insiders as the non-hawk-awkward adult at this fire-sale diplomacy party. Trump bragged about an Iranian 'oil and gas' surprise present—vaguer than a mystery box on TikTok—while telling Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to 'keep up the pressure,' who charmingly quipped, 'We negotiate with bombs.' This isn’t peace, it’s 'Deal or No Deal' but the briefcase always has a grenade.