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The president Donald Trump published on May 18 on his Truth Social account a map of the Middle East with the flag of the United States superimposed over several countries in the region, with particular emphasis on Iran, accompanied by the text "United States of the Middle East?"
The post was part of a package of more than 20 AI-generated images that Trump shared on the same day, including scenes of attacks on Iranian boats and other symbols of American dominance over Iran.
On the same day, May 18, Trump issued a direct warning to Tehran on the same platform: "For Iran, the clock is ticking... there will be nothing left of them" and "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!"
The publication comes in the context of an open war between the United States, Israel, and Iran that began on February 28, 2026 with the "Operation Epic Fury," launched by Trump from Air Force One while traveling to Texas, involving coordinated attacks against more than 500 Iranian targets.
Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz —through which around 20% of the world's oil and gas was transported— causing global crude prices to soar.
The U.S. imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and vessels starting April 13, 2026, and on May 4, Trump activated the “Freedom Project” to escort ships in the Strait, deploying 15,000 troops and over 100 aircraft.
The map is interpreted as a tactic of public pressure on Iran amid peace negotiations mediated by Pakistan, which are at a critical moment.
This Saturday, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Bagaei, stated on state television that "over the past week, the trend has been towards a greater alignment of positions," although he refrained from suggesting that a definitive agreement was near.
Bagaei noted that it was necessary to wait "to see what happens in the next three or four days" before making a statement regarding a pact.
The Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday that there had been a "slight advance" in the peace talks between the U.S. and Iran.
The parties are currently working on a memorandum of understanding based on the Iranian proposal of 14 points, focused on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, with subsequent negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, the lifting of sanctions, and the unlocking of Iranian funds abroad within a period of 30 to 60 days.
The main obstacle remains the nuclear program: the U.S. demands complete dismantling and a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment, while Iran offers only a five-year pause and claims up to 270 billion dollars in compensation for war damages.
This is not the first time Trump has used provocative imagery on Truth Social to convey geopolitical messages: he previously posted images of Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada with references to a possible U.S. territorial expansion.
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