Trump warns Iran "clock is ticking" until US launches harder strikes President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Sunday, stating that "the clock is ticking" for the country and threatening to escalate military action if Tehran fails to meet U.S. demands for a nuclear deal. In a phone call with Axios, Trump emphasized that Iran must submit a "better offer" than its previous proposal, or face "much harder" strikes. The remarks come as U.S. officials indicated that the administration is considering military options after Iran's continued refusal to make significant concessions on its nuclear program. The situation has intensified amid stalled negotiations, with Trump expressing confidence that Iran still seeks a deal but insisting the country must demonstrate greater willingness to compromise. "We want to make a deal. They are not where we want them to be. They will have to get there, or they will be hit badly, and they don't want that," Trump said. He declined to specify a deadline for the talks, but stressed that time is running out for Iran to avoid further escalation. Trump is set to convene his top national security team in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss potential military strategies. The meeting, which includes Vice President JD Vance, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, follows a Saturday gathering at Trump's Virginia golf club. During that meeting, Trump reportedly outlined his stance on Iran's nuclear program and the need for a more favorable proposal. The administration's approach has been complicated by Iran's rejection of key U.S. demands, including limits on its nuclear capabilities and transparency measures. U.S.#iran #donald_trump #marco_rubio #steve_witkoff #james_douglas_vance
U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Stall, Spurring Global Market Volatility Amid Energy and Geopolitical Uncertainty Global markets faced renewed uncertainty as U.S.-Iran peace talks stalled, with geopolitical tensions and energy supply disruptions continuing to weigh on investor sentiment. The weekend’s developments, including the cancellation of planned U.S. envoy negotiations and Iran’s tentative proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, left markets balancing resilient risk appetite against escalating geopolitical strain. Oil prices edged higher, reflecting persistent concerns over supply constraints and the potential for prolonged disruptions in the critical energy waterway. U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly scrapped plans to send envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks with Iran, citing “tremendous infighting and confusion” within Tehran’s leadership. Despite the setback, Iran offered a new proposal to the U.S., suggesting a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz while deferring nuclear negotiations. The offer, reported by Axios, was accompanied by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s brief return to Islamabad, where Pakistani leaders sought to revive talks between Washington and Tehran. However, Trump indicated that discussions could proceed via phone, with Araghchi reportedly departing for Moscow shortly after. The stalled negotiations intensified market anxiety over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil exports. Oil prices rose Monday, with Brent crude futures climbing 1% to $106.55 per barrel and U.S. crude adding 0.88% to $95.23 per barrel. Goldman Sachs raised its Brent oil forecast to $90 per barrel by late 2026, citing prolonged supply disruptions in the Persian Gulf and slower-than-expected production recovery.#us #iran #donald_trump #strait_of_hormuz #steve_witkoff
Trump says Iran let 10 oil ships through Strait of Hormuz as 'present' President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz this week as a “present” to the United States. During a Cabinet meeting, Trump described the incident as a gesture from Iran to demonstrate its commitment to the conflict, stating that Tehran had initially offered eight ships but later added two more. “They said, ‘To show you the fact that we’re real and solid and we’re there, we’re going to let you have eight boats of oil ... and they’ll sail up tomorrow,’” he said, noting the final number reached 10. Trump framed the event as part of ongoing “very substantial talks” with Iran, despite Tehran denying that direct negotiations had begun. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that the administration had received “multiple reach-outs from the region and others who want to play a role in ending this conflict peacefully.” He also revealed that the U.S. had shared a 15-point peace framework with Iran, though the proposal was delivered via Pakistan, which acted as a mediator. Iranian state media reported that Tehran rejected the U.S. ceasefire offer and instead submitted its own conditions for ending the war. These terms would grant Iran sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route that has been effectively blocked since hostilities began nearly four weeks ago. The closure has raised concerns about global oil supply, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Trump previously suggested that the strait could be jointly controlled by the U.S. and Iran as part of a resolution to the conflict, which he and Israel initiated. Witkoff emphasized that Trump had instructed him to maintain confidentiality about the peace deal’s terms and avoid public negotiations.#iran #donald_trump #strait_of_hormuz #pete_hegseth #steve_witkoff
Iran US war LIVE updates: US says Iran Revolutionary Guards' Navy commander killed in strike | World News The United States has claimed that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards killed its Navy commander during a recent strike. Meanwhile, US special envoy Steve Witkoff signaled potential progress in negotiations, stating that Washington sees “strong signs” Tehran might agree to a ceasefire. Despite this, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, emphasized that Tehran is reviewing a US peace proposal but has no intention of engaging in talks to end the escalating regional conflict. The exchange of messages through med...#us #iran #abbas_araghchi #steve_witkoff #revolutionary_guards
Diplomats claim Trump’s special envoy undermined Iran talks A Persian Gulf diplomat with direct knowledge of U.S.-Iran negotiations told MS NOW that Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, misrepresented key details of a critical conversation during talks. The diplomat described Witkoff’s account of the discussions as false, highlighting a stark divergence between the envoy’s public statements and the reality of the negotiations. Witkoff, speaking on Fox News, claimed Iranian negotiators boasted to him that Iran had enough enriched uranium to produce nearly a dozen nuclear bombs. He described the conversation as the starting point of Iran’s negotiating stance, with Iranian officials expressing pride in their ability to evade international oversight protocols. According to Witkoff, the Iranians stated they possessed 460 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, which could be used to build 11 nuclear weapons. However, the Persian Gulf diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, refuted Witkoff’s account. The diplomat said Iranian officials had actually offered to relinquish the enriched uranium as part of a potential agreement with Trump. They also claimed the uranium was enriched after Trump withdrew from the 2017 nuclear deal under the Obama administration. The diplomat emphasized that Witkoff’s description of the conversation was inaccurate, stating that the envoy had misrepresented the Iranians’ willingness to compromise. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly dismissed the claims, accusing critics of spreading “false, anti-American propaganda.” She asserted that Trump and Witkoff had acted in good faith to address threats posed by Iran, including its nuclear program and support for terrorist proxies.#iran #abbas_araghchi #steve_witkoff #abraham_lincoln #jared_kushner
While UN issues mixed signals, Witkoff exposes Tehran’s nuclear evasion ‘pride’ The U.N. nuclear agency’s recent statements have failed to address critical concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, according to U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. During an interview on Fox News, Witkoff revealed that Iranian negotiators openly expressed pride in evading international oversight protocols to advance their nuclear capabilities. The remarks, which highlight Iran’s defiance of global monitoring efforts, have drawn renewed scrutiny amid escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Witkoff detailed the challenges of nuclear negotiations, emphasizing that Iran’s refusal to fully cooperate with inspections has undermined trust in the process. He cited specific instances where Iranian officials boasted about bypassing safeguards to achieve weapons-grade uranium enrichment, a development that has raised alarms about the country’s nuclear ambitions. Despite these revelations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has maintained that there is no conclusive evidence of Iran developing a nuclear weapon, a stance that Witkoff described as insufficient given the recent intelligence. The IAEA director general, Rafael Grossi, recently tweeted that “there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb,” a claim that has been met with skepticism by U.S. officials. Fox News Digital sought clarification from the IAEA on how it could assess Iran’s nuclear activities without direct access to classified intelligence. The agency’s response, while vague, has not resolved the broader concerns about Iran’s compliance with international agreements. As the U.S. and Israel intensify military operations against Iran, the nuclear issue remains a central point of contention.#iran #un #steve_witkoff #iaea #rafael_grossi
