President Trump has escalated his ultimatum to Iran, warning the country has only 'two or three days' to reach a deal to end the war or face renewed attacks. According to Business Standard, Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, stating 'In their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond.' The president told reporters he was 'an hour away' from making the decision to strike Iran on Monday, but that U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf requested he not go ahead with the plan. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had asked Trump to hold off, as they believed 'serious negotiations' were underway that could yield a deal. An Iranian lawmaker has claimed the U.S. requested the ceasefire and negotiations, with Ebrahim Rezaei stating 'The Islamic Republic of Iran never requested negotiations with the United States during the war.'
Iranian officials have responded defiantly to Trump's latest warnings, with an Iranian official stating that the US threat of a massive assault at any moment will be met 'resolutely' and Iran is 'prepared to confront any military aggression'. As reported by Business Standard, Iranian state media reported that Tehran's latest peace proposal involves ending hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, the exit of U.S. forces from areas close to Iran, and reparations for destruction caused by the U.S.-Israeli war. As reported by Business Standard, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that Tehran also seeks the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen funds and an end to the U.S. marine blockade on the country. The terms appear little changed from Iran's previous offer, which Trump rejected last week as 'garbage.' Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, stated that Iran had submitted its latest proposal for a peace deal, but that U.S. representatives 'have not yet provided an official response.' For a peace deal to materialize, 'war on all fronts, including Lebanon, must end; U.S. forces must withdraw from the region surrounding Iran; the maritime blockade must be lifted; sanctions must be removed; and Iran's assets must be released.'
Trump warned that a full, large-scale assault of Iran could happen 'on a moment's notice' if a deal isn't reached, as reported by Business Standard. Treasury Secretary Bessent called on European nations to help stop mechanisms that finance terror organizations, including shell companies operating in Europe. In remarks to the 'No Money for Terror Conference' in Paris, Bessent argued that 'too often, we seem to be alone in our resolve to thwart it.' The U.S. military has redirected 88 commercial vessels since beginning blockading Iranian ports, with four vessels disabled to ensure total compliance since the blockade began on April 13. The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports has gridlocked vital shipping lanes and sent global energy prices skyrocketing, with around 90% of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz cut off according to the British navy. Iran's Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia declared that 'Iran cannot be defeated,' threatening to 'open new fronts' if attacked again. An Iranian official has now confirmed Iran's readiness to 'repel the threat of massive assault at any moment' resolutely.
The Senate advanced a resolution to limit President Trump's war powers in Iran on Tuesday, marking a breakthrough for Democrats after seven failed attempts. Senators approved a motion to discharge the resolution from committee in a 50 to 47 vote, with Four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana — joining the bulk of Democrats in favor of advancing the resolution. Vice President JD Vance was asked if he personally believes the Iranians will come to a deal, stating 'The honest answer is, how could I possibly know?' Vance resurrected the Cold War-era 'domino theory,' saying 'If you have every country in the world scrambling to try to get a nuclear weapon, it would make us all much less safe.' NATO's top commander said he was 'thinking' about how the alliance could help in the Strait of Hormuz, though no formal planning has begun yet. The latest developments come as Qatar's government said negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which are being mediated by Pakistan, need more time to reach a deal.
The war has created significant regional tensions, with Lebanon's health ministry reporting 3,020 people killed and 9,273 wounded since early March amid the conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he was ready to 'do the impossible' to stop the war, while Hezbollah has continued attacking Israeli forces and firing rockets into northern Israel. Iran has held a mass wedding for at least 1,000 couples in Tehran as part of what state media called a 'Sacrifice for Iran' event, with couples who agreed to fight for Iran if attacked being celebrated. The U.S. has sanctioned 19 vessels that collectively enable Iran's regime to evade international sanctions and fund destabilizing activities across the Middle East. A new 'logistics corridor' between Sharjah in the UAE and Oman has been launched as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, with trucks ferrying goods between the Sharjah port and Sohar port in Oman bypassing the strait. The latest developments show Iranian officials confirming they are 'prepared to confront any military aggression' as the diplomatic window narrows.
