Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that the United States was prepared to launch fresh attacks on Iran if negotiations failed to produce results within days, sharply raising fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said the situation remained “right on the borderline” and could escalate rapidly.
“Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go,” Trump said.
Six weeks after Washington paused Operation Epic Fury under a fragile ceasefire, efforts to end the war have made little progress, while soaring oil and gasoline prices have added economic pressure on the White House ahead of November’s congressional elections.
Iran Warns Of Wider Regional War
Iran responded with its own warning.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said renewed attacks would trigger a conflict extending far beyond the region.
“If aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will extend beyond the region this time,” the Guards said in a statement.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remained open to negotiations but rejected pressure tactics.
“Forcing Iran to surrender through coercion is nothing but an illusion,” he wrote on X.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei added that Iran still had “strong and reasonable suspicion over America’s performance”.
Pakistan Continues Mediation Efforts
Pakistan has continued acting as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.
Iran confirmed that Pakistan’s interior minister was in Tehran on Wednesday carrying messages between both sides.
Baghaei said diplomatic exchanges were continuing through Pakistani mediation channels.
Iran has reportedly submitted a fresh proposal to Washington, though the offer largely repeats demands previously rejected by Trump, including sanctions relief, compensation for war damage and recognition of Iran’s role in controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
Strait Of Hormuz Remains A Global Pressure Point
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the crisis.
Iran has heavily restricted maritime traffic there since the US-Israeli attacks began in February, causing one of the largest disruptions to global energy supplies in modern history.
This week, Tehran unveiled a “controlled maritime zone” around the strait and said vessels would require authorisation to pass through. Iranian officials also hinted that transit fees could eventually be imposed a move Washington has called unacceptable.
Despite tensions, two Chinese supertankers carrying around four million barrels of oil passed through the strait on Wednesday after Tehran eased restrictions for some Chinese vessels.
Shipping monitor Lloyd’s List said at least 54 ships crossed the strait last week, still well below pre-war levels.
Trump Faces Domestic Pressure
Trump is facing growing domestic pressure to end the crisis as rising fuel prices hurt Republican support ahead of the midterms.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said inflation linked to the conflict would likely ease once the strait fully reopens.
“The strait will open, and we’ll normalize energy prices,” he said.
(with inputs from Reuters)
