'Not much time': Trump warns Iran talks face deadline before 'very strong military action'
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Monday, July 27, said Iran has only "not much time" to reach a deal before he is prepared to resume "very strong military action."
The warning underscored Trump's insistence that the current pause in US strikes is temporary. He said the decision came only after countries involved in mediation urged him to give diplomacy another chance.
Trump ties military pause to diplomacy
Speaking to Axios on Monday, Trump said negotiations with Iran remain active but warned they could quickly give way to renewed military operations.
"We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action," Trump said.
Asked how long he was willing to continue diplomatic efforts, the president replied: "Not much time. Either it goes fast or not at all."
Trump said he halted planned strikes on Friday after mediating countries requested more time for negotiations.
"All of the people that deal with Iran asked me: 'Don't fire,'" Trump said, adding that he believes Iran wants to make a deal.
Explaining why he agreed to the request, Trump said, "Nothing gained, nothing lost."
He also pointed to the market reaction following the pause, saying oil prices fell while the stock market rose after attacks were put on hold.
Trump previously weighed larger Iran strikes
Trump's latest comments came days after he told Axios he was seriously considering restarting major combat operations against Iran on a larger scale than Operation Epic Fury.
"I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," he said in that earlier interview.
He stressed at the time that no final decision had been made, while two US officials also confirmed that no new military orders had been issued.
Trump said Israel "would join in two minutes if I ask them to," but added that the United States did not need anyone else's participation to launch a new operation.
He also warned there would be "consequences" if Israel joined future strikes, suggesting Iran could retaliate against the country.
Trump says Iran still wants a deal
Despite threatening renewed military action, Trump maintained that Tehran remains interested in negotiations.
"They haven't received enough pain yet," he said, arguing Iran still was not prepared to accept a deal.
According to two regional sources familiar with mediation efforts, Iranian leaders have not accepted the latest proposal presented during the negotiations, the outlet reported.
One of the sources told the outlet, "We are trying, but the Iranians are not being helpful."
Trump also renewed his warning over Iran-backed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, saying on Truth Social that if the Houthis attack ships again, "the US will hold Iran responsible."
He added that the Houthis are an Iranian proxy and that "major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves."
Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, where he said he plans to discuss Iran, adding, "I am going to talk to Bibi about the fact that if I weren't president, Iran would have had nuclear weapons by now and Israel would have been destroyed."
