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U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that the United States could launch a new strike against Iran, a day after revealing that he had refrained from a wide-scale attack to allow room for a potential agreement between the two nations. Meanwhile, the Iranian military threatened to open "new fronts" if the U.S. proceeds.
​Trump told reporters at the White House that he was "just an hour away" from resuming Washington's attacks on Iran before postponing the order.
​Since the ceasefire took effect on April 8—following nearly 40 days of strikes initiated by the United States and Israel on February 28—contacts have been underway to try and reach an agreement. However, the positions of Washington and Tehran remain far apart, particularly regarding the nuclear file.
​"You know how it is negotiating with a country that you are beating badly," Trump said. "They come to the negotiation table, and they are begging for a deal."
​He added: "I hope we don't have to go to war (again), but we may have to give them another big hit. I'm not sure yet."
​Conversely, the Iranian military spokesperson, Mohammad Akrami Nia, warned that Iran would open "new fronts" against the United States if it resumes its strikes.
​Akrami Nia stressed that "the military of the Islamic Republic of Iran treats the ceasefire period as a phase of war, and has utilized this opportunity to enhance its combat capabilities."
​A Few Days
​Trump set a deadline limited to just a few days before strikes would resume if an agreement is not reached.
​He pointed to a timeframe of "two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, something like that, maybe at the beginning of next week—a limited period."
​On Monday, Trump announced that he had postponed a new attack on Iran at the last minute at the request of the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, while asserting that there are "very good chances" of reaching a deal with Tehran.
​However, he clarified that he instructed the U.S. military to "be ready to move forward with a full, wide-scale attack on Iran at any moment" if an acceptable agreement is not secured.
​Trump had previously extended the truce indefinitely, indicating a desire to exit a war that has proven politically burdensome, given Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent disruption to the global economy and impact on Americans through rising fuel prices.
​Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi commented on Tuesday in a post on the 'X' platform, stating that Trump, in his remarks, "describes the threat as an opportunity for peace."
​Three-Drone Attack
​A single round of talks between U.S. and Iranian representatives took place on April 11 in Islamabad, ending in a failure to reach an agreement.
​Iran has repeatedly rejected Trump's offers for a deal, while its control over the Strait of Hormuz has sent global oil prices skyrocketing.
​Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that communication with the United States had occurred via the Pakistani mediator, stating that Iran clearly expressed its concerns.
​For its part, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced that the drones targeting the vicinity of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant on Sunday originated from Iraqi territory.
​A post by the ministry on 'X' stated: "As part of completing the investigations regarding the blatant attack on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant on May 17, 2026, technical tracking and monitoring results confirmed that the three drones... all came from Iraqi territory."
​An Emirati official had previously hinted at a direct or indirect role played by Iran, without naming the country.
​This came a day after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that fiber-optic internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz could be subjected to a permit system.
​On Monday, the IRGC announced that it had targeted groups linked to the United States and Israel in Iran's western Kurdistan province, near the border with Iraq.
​Qatar affirmed on Tuesday that negotiations between the United States and Iran need "more time" to yield results.
​During a press briefing in Doha, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said: "We fully support the diplomatic track... and we support the diplomatic efforts exerted by Pakistan, which has shown seriousness in bringing the parties closer and finding a solution. We believe that the matter needs more time."
​"Excessive" Conditions
​Iran announced on Monday that it had responded to a new U.S. proposal aimed at ending the war, while Iranian media reports pointed to "excessive" American demands devoid of "any concessions."
​On Sunday, Iran's Fars News Agency reported that Washington put forward 5 points, demanding in particular that Iran retain only one nuclear facility and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States.
​Fars indicated that Washington refused to release frozen Iranian assets abroad "even by 25%," or to pay any compensation for damages sustained by Iran during the war.
​The report added that the United States also stated it would not halt hostilities until Tehran enters into formal peace negotiations.
​However, Iran is holding firm on its demands, including the release of frozen assets, the lifting of sanctions imposed on the country, and the payment of war reparations.
​On Monday, Iran's Tasnim News Agency quoted an unnamed source close to the Iranian negotiating delegation as saying: "Unlike previous texts, the Americans agreed in a new text to suspend oil sanctions during the negotiation period."
​AFP