Trump warns Iran to rein in 'proxies' or face strikes 'even harder' than last week

WASHINGTON, DC: Trump sharply escalated his rhetoric toward Tehran on Sunday, June 21, warning that Iran would face another round of military action if it failed to rein in the armed groups it supports across the Middle East.

The warning landed at a delicate moment, with senior US officials already in Switzerland trying to turn last week’s breakthrough agreement with Iran into a broader and more durable settlement covering both regional security and nuclear issues.

Trump issues fresh threat to Iran

In a post on Truth Social, Trump directly linked Iran to recent tensions involving Hezbollah in Lebanon and signaled that Washington's patience was limited.

“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” President Donald Trump wrote.

The message marked one of Trump's strongest warnings since the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at reducing tensions across the region.

While the agreement opened the door to negotiations and temporary de-escalation measures, Trump’s latest remarks suggest the administration remains prepared to respond militarily if it believes Tehran is failing to uphold its commitments.

Although both sides have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to the truce, accusations of violations have continued, keeping the situation volatile.

Peace talks move ahead in Switzerland

The warning comes even as diplomacy remains active.

Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Switzerland to lead a new round of negotiations with Iranian representatives.

Joining the US delegation are Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, both of whom have been heavily involved in shaping the administration’s Middle East strategy.

Speaking before his departure, Vance outlined the administration’s priorities.

He said negotiators would focus on two major issues: the future of Iran’s nuclear activities and ensuring the ceasefire framework in Lebanon holds.

According to Vance, the goal is to move beyond broad political commitments and begin detailed technical negotiations that could eventually form the basis of a permanent agreement.

“What today really represents is the beginning of a technical negotiation,” Vance told reporters before leaving for Switzerland.

He described the talks as an opportunity for all parties to identify their core concerns and begin working toward long-term solutions.

The negotiations also involve officials from Pakistan and Qatar, two countries that have played key roles in facilitating communication between Washington and Tehran.