Trump Urges Iran to Accept Deal or Face Further Strikes Amid Ongoing Conflict

President Donald Trump on Thursday called on Iran to reach a deal to end U.S. and Israeli bombing operations, warning that refusal would result in more attacks. “They now have the chance, that is Iran, to permanently abandon their nuclear ambitions and to join a new path forward,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “We’ll see if they want to do it. If they don’t, we’re their worst nightmare. In the meantime, we’ll just keep blowing them away.”

Trump’s remarks came after a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Washington’s proposal to end nearly four weeks of hostilities is “one-sided and unfair,” though diplomacy between the two sides continues.

The former U.S. president described Iranian officials as “great negotiators” and said he was aiming for an agreement that would ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open and limit Tehran’s military ambitions. However, Trump noted that a deal might not materialize. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that,” he said regarding the prospects for an agreement. “I don’t know if we’re willing to do that.”