BY MIRABEL ODETA
President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could launch fresh military strikes against Iran within days if negotiations between Washington and Tehran fail to produce an agreement. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump revealed that he had come close to authorizing a new attack before deciding to delay the operation at the last moment.
According to Trump, he was “an hour away” from making the decision to proceed with military action before pausing the move to allow more time for diplomacy. His comments came just one day after he announced that plans to resume hostilities had been temporarily suspended following a new peace proposal presented by Tehran aimed at ending the conflict involving the United States and Israel.
Trump suggested that Iran’s leadership was now under increasing pressure and eager to negotiate a settlement to avoid further military escalation. He stated that if an agreement was not reached soon, another round of attacks could take place as early as Friday or over the weekend.
“Well, I mean, I’m saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week,” Trump told reporters. He described the possible military operation as limited in scope but insisted the United States could not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon under any circumstances.
The remarks have intensified fears of another major confrontation in the Middle East after months of deadly conflict between Iran, Israel, and U.S. forces. Although a ceasefire reached earlier this year largely halted direct fighting, tensions have remained extremely high across the region.
In Tehran, Iranian officials responded defiantly to Trump’s warning. Ebrahim Azizi, who heads the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, said the U.S. decision to delay strikes showed Washington understood the consequences of provoking Iran further. Writing on X, he claimed that any new attack would trigger a “decisive military response” from Tehran.
Iranian state media reported that Tehran’s latest proposal for peace includes ending military operations across several fronts, including Lebanon, while also demanding the withdrawal of U.S. forces from areas close to Iran. The proposal reportedly calls for financial compensation for damage caused during the U.S.-Israeli military campaign.
Iran is also seeking the removal of economic sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian funds abroad, and an end to what it describes as a U.S. naval blockade affecting its economy. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said these measures are essential for restoring stability and rebuilding trust between both sides.
Despite the proposal, many analysts believe the demands remain largely unchanged from previous Iranian offers that Trump had already rejected. Last week, the U.S. president dismissed an earlier version of the plan as “garbage,” signaling that major disagreements still remain between both governments.
Uncertainty also surrounds whether the U.S. military has already begun preparations for possible strikes. While officials have not confirmed operational details, pressure continues to mount on Washington to secure a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. The waterway remains critical for global energy supplies, and continued instability there has raised concerns in international markets.
Trump has repeatedly expressed hope that diplomacy could still succeed. On Monday, he said the United States would be satisfied if an agreement could permanently prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability.
“There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out,” Trump said. “If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I would be very happy.”
Pakistan has reportedly played a key role in communication efforts between both countries. A Pakistani source confirmed that Islamabad had helped pass Tehran’s latest proposal to Washington after hosting earlier rounds of talks. However, the source warned that negotiations remain fragile, saying both sides continue “changing their goalposts” while time is running out.
The conflict has already caused devastating consequences across the region. Thousands of people were killed in Iran during the intense U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign before the ceasefire was reached in early April. In Lebanon, Israeli military operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and left widespread destruction.
Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and neighboring Gulf states have also killed dozens of people and heightened fears of a broader regional war. Although the ceasefire with Iran has mostly held, recent drone launches from Iraq toward Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have raised fresh concerns. Regional observers believe the attacks may have been carried out by groups allied with Tehran.
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have argued that the military campaign was necessary to weaken Iran’s nuclear ambitions, reduce its missile capabilities, and limit support for armed groups operating across the Middle East. They also claimed the pressure campaign could encourage political change inside Iran.
However, critics argue that despite months of military operations, Iran still retains significant missile and drone capabilities as well as stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. Iran’s government has also remained firmly in power despite internal protests earlier this year and growing economic hardship caused by sanctions and conflict.
Shortly before speaking at the White House, Trump’s administration announced new sanctions targeting an Iranian foreign currency exchange network and several companies accused of helping Iranian banks conduct international financial transactions. U.S. officials said the measures were designed to further isolate Tehran economically and increase pressure on its leadership to reach a deal.
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