Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to Iran, saying the United States is prepared to launch even more powerful strikes if a “real agreement” is not reached with the Islamic Republic.
In a late Wednesday post on social media, Trump stated that U.S. troops, aircraft, and naval forces would remain strategically positioned around Iran until what he described as a “REAL AGREEMENT” is fully secured.
He warned that failure to reach such a deal could trigger a major escalation. “If for any reason it is not… then the ‘shooting starts’—bigger, better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” he said, while reiterating that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and secure.
Trump also struck a confident tone about U.S. military readiness, saying American forces are “loading up and resting,” and even “looking forward” to what he called their next conquest, adding, “America is back.”
His remarks come shortly after a temporary breakthrough in the conflict. A two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran—brokered by Pakistan—paused six weeks of intense fighting, following Trump’s earlier warning that continued escalation could wipe out “a whole civilisation.”
The conflict, which began on February 28, escalated after joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran. In the early days of the war, Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed.
As tensions grew, Iran moved to restrict the flow of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments, raising concerns across international markets.
Now, diplomatic efforts are set to resume. Peace talks between Washington and Tehran are scheduled to take place in Islamabad this weekend. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is expected to lead the American delegation, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt confirmed that the first round of discussions will begin on Saturday, noting that Vance has been deeply involved in negotiations from the outset and will now spearhead this next phase of diplomatic talks.
