US President Donald Trump warned once again on Tuesday that he could order new strikes against Iran if no agreement is reached. At the same time, the Iranian military threatened to open “new fronts” if Washington resumes the war.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he hoped military action would not be necessary but did not rule it out.
“However, we may need to deliver another heavy blow. I’m not sure at the moment,” he said.
Asked how long he was willing to wait for Tehran to return to negotiations, Trump avoided giving a clear timeline.
“Two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something like that, perhaps until the start of next week,” he said.
Gulf states push for diplomacy
Earlier, Qatar called for “more time” for diplomacy to resolve the conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah operates.
Trump revealed on Monday that he had cancelled a planned new attack against the Islamic Republic at the last moment. He later wrote on Truth Social that he withdrew the order after leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates urged him to give diplomacy more time.
US Vice President JD Vance also sent mixed signals during a White House briefing, speaking of “progress” in talks reportedly taking place through Pakistan while warning that the US remained ready for renewed conflict.
“In the end, either we reach a deal, or we don’t,” Vance said, adding that Washington was keeping “its finger on the trigger”.
Iran warns of “new fronts”
Iranian military spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia warned that Tehran would respond if attacked again.
“If the enemy commits the foolishness of falling once more into the Zionists’ trap and launches a new attack against our beloved Iran, we will open new fronts against it,” he said, according to Iranian news agency ISNA.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council condemned Sunday’s attack on a nuclear power facility in the UAE, including support from Russia.
The UAE earlier stated that the drones used in the attack entered its territory from Iraq, where armed groups aligned with Iran remain active.
Nuclear dispute remains unresolved
Since a ceasefire was announced on April 8 after around 40 days of hostilities, diplomatic contacts have continued in search of an end to the conflict. However, Washington and Tehran remain far apart, especially over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iranian officials on Monday confirmed they had submitted a new proposal to the US aimed at breaking the deadlock. Tehran reportedly continues to demand the release of frozen Iranian assets abroad and the lifting of international sanctions affecting its economy.
The US insists it wants to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran has denied for decades.
According to Iranian media, Washington’s latest proposal includes demands for Iran to maintain only one operational nuclear facility and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US.
Fighting continues in Lebanon
In Lebanon, clashes continue despite the recent extension of the ceasefire between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.
Israeli forces launched fresh air and artillery strikes in southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting 19 deaths on Tuesday.
Hezbollah also reported clashes between its fighters and Israeli troops in the south.
Separately, an NGO announced the return to the US of an Iranian-born man who had served a 10-year prison sentence in Iran after being convicted of espionage.
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