President Donald Trump on Tuesday entreated Iranians to “rise up and fight” while also dismissing the possibility that U.S. strikes on Iran are intended to bring Tehran to the negotiating table.
Page A8From§Eachthe sunrise edition — 2 September 2026
US launches new strikes on Iran while Trump shrugs off negotiations and calls Iranians to rise up
As it ran on the front
First, the US launches new strikes on Iran, warning of escalation if Iran responds. Next, Trump says he's not trying to force Iran to the negotiating table, then implores Iranians to rise up and fight, dismissing talks as 'worthless.' The official line is this is a show of strength — pressure, not provocation, meant to keep the upper hand and protect American interests abroad. If negotiations aren't working, maybe a few bombs and some encouraging words to the opposition will do the trick.
But then again, nobody wants to say it's just about escalation. No, it's about peace through strength. Or is it pressure through strength? Or maybe it's just strength for the sake of strength. The messaging shifts depending on the hour. One minute, the administration says talks are pointless; the next, they warn Iran not to escalate, as if the strikes themselves aren't already doing the escalating. Then, Trump calls for Iranians to 'rise up and fight,' as if the stakes aren't already high enough for the people living under threat.…
…(cont) The official language spins itself into knots. This isn't about provoking a response, it's about keeping the peace. Except when it's about showing resolve, or sending a message, or making sure America's interests are protected. But wait — did I say 'protected'? I meant 'asserted.' Or was it 'defended'? The line blurs. The only thing clear is the risk: someone else's kid gets caught in the crossfire while the suits call it strategy. The policy here is a dare dressed up as diplomacy, and the consequences are real for the people who have to live with them.
“They're dropping bombs and telling folks to fight their own government, all while pretending talks are pointless. That's not a policy, that's a dare. The stakes? Someone else's kid gets caught in the crossfire while the suits call it strategy.”
“This is about showing strength—sometimes you have to escalate to keep the upper hand. Negotiations are overrated; real progress comes from pressure. Well, maybe some talks, but only if they work for us. Wait, did I say 'pressure'? I meant 'peace through strength.'”
The receipts
The U.S. military completed a new wave of strikes Tuesday on targets in Iran as the conflict in the region stretches into its seventh month. “U.S.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the primary flashpoint in the conflict.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.