US President Donald Trump issues an ultimatum to Iran, saying the United States will renew bombing at a higher level and intensity if Iran does not accept a deal to end the war. Trump makes the statement on Truth Social, referring to the US military campaign as “Epic Fury” and indicating the campaign would end if Iran agrees to the terms already “agreed to.” The remarks come after reporting that Washington and Tehran are close to a one-page memorandum of understanding to end hostilities and create a framework for later nuclear negotiations. Soon after, Trump also comments that face-to-face discussions with Iran in Pakistan, where the country is mediating, are “too far” and “too much.”
Other reporting notes the administration is seeking a path out of the conflict, which has affected US public opinion and contributed to higher fuel prices. In a related development, Trump announces a brief pause in a US operation guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, while saying the blockade of Iranian ports remains in place because Iran continues to close the trade route. Across sources, there is continued uncertainty about the exact terms of the end-of-war proposal and the administration’s overall approach.
