President Donald Trump said the United States could launch new strikes against Iran within days if negotiations fail, escalating tensions as Washington and Tehran remain deeply divided over military and nuclear issues.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran was “begging to make a deal” and warned that US forces may deliver “another big hit” if an agreement is not reached soon.
He said military assets, including naval ships armed with missiles, were prepared for action and claimed he had been one hour away from authorizing a new attack on Iran.
Trump added that any potential operation could take place “Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week” because “we can’t let them have a new nuclear weapon.”
Iranian officials responded by warning that Tehran was prepared to confront any military escalation.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Trump’s remarks reflected readiness for “a massive assault at any moment”.
“Iran, united and resolutely, is prepared to confront any military aggression,” Gharibabadi wrote on X.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said communication between regional leaders and parties involved in the conflict remains ongoing.
Meanwhile, finance ministers from the Group of Seven called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the importance of multilateral cooperation to address risks facing the global economy.
Iran and the United States continue to disagree on several central demands linked to negotiations.
Iran has rejected US proposals calling for a halt to uranium enrichment for the next two decades, insisting it will not surrender what it describes as its right to enrich uranium.
Tehran is also demanding guarantees to end the war across regional fronts, including Lebanon, before discussing its nuclear programme.
Iran has further called for an end to the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, reparations for war damage, the withdrawal of US forces from the region, and the removal of sanctions tied to nuclear activity, human rights allegations and terrorism claims.
Washington has rejected several of those demands, leaving negotiations at an impasse.