U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Iran to accept a peace deal, warning that failure to engage seriously could lead to severe consequences. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump described Iranian negotiators as 'very different and strange,' claiming they are privately pushing for a deal while publicly denying direct talks. He asserted that Iran has been 'militarily obliterated' and has 'zero chance of a comeback,' urging Tehran to 'get serious soon, before it is too late.'
The remarks come as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran is reviewing a U.S. proposal but has no intention of holding direct talks to wind down the conflict. The U.S. has reportedly paused strikes on Iranian infrastructure for five days, subject to the success of ongoing discussions, which expire on Sunday.
Trump also criticized NATO, accusing alliance members of doing 'absolutely nothing' to help confront Iran. He warned that the U.S. 'needs nothing from NATO' but added that the alliance's stance 'will never be forgotten.' The Pentagon is reportedly drawing up military options, including a potential 'final blow' against Iran, which could involve ground forces and a massive bombing campaign.
The White House has echoed Trump's warnings, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the president is prepared to 'unleash hell' if Iran refuses to accept a deal. She claimed that U.S. operations have significantly degraded Iran's military capabilities, describing the campaign as 'the largest elimination of a navy in three weeks since World War Two.' Leavitt emphasized that any further escalation would be the result of Iran's refusal to accept its military defeat.
Meanwhile, oil prices have climbed as markets react to Iran's dismissal of the U.S. proposal, despite Trump's insistence that Iranian leaders 'badly' want a deal to stop the conflict.