The US bombed three key Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday after waves of Israeli attacks on nuclear and military sites and retaliatory missile fire from Iran since June 13.

Prior to the US attacks, Trump had demanded “unconditional surrender” from Tehran and said he was weighing his military options, amid concerns by the US and Israel about Iran’s nuclear weapon development.

“It’s like holding a gun (to someone) and then asking them if they agree (with you) or not. If they don’t agree, you’ll shoot them,” said Mahathir in a podcast.

“This is not a negotiation. This is a threat. (He’s) like a gangster. This is what gangsters do… Hold a gun at you and force you to do something. If you don’t, you’ll get shot.

“This is how Trump is acting now by not only telling Iran to stop (its attacks on Israel), but also surrender as per their (US and Israel’s) terms.”

Earlier today, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted Iran would “never surrender” to the US, striking a defiant tone two days after a ceasefire halted the 12-day war.

“The Islamic republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap in the face of America,” he said, a reference to Iran’s missile launch targeting a US base in Qatar – its largest in the Middle East – on Monday.

“The American president indicated in one of his statements that Iran must surrender. Surrender! It is no longer a question of enrichment, nor of the nuclear industry, but of the surrender of Iran,” he said in a televised speech.

“Such an event (surrender) will never happen. It will never happen.”