Trump warns of ‘very strong military action’ against Iran if diplomacy fails | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump warned on Monday (July 27th) that the United States could resume “very strong military action” against Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail, while confirming that Washington had suspended planned strikes to give negotiations another chance.
In an interview with Axios, Trump said diplomacy remains the preferred option, but warned that the window for talks is limited.
“We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don’t come out, we will go back to very strong military action,” Trump’s message quoted him as saying.
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Trump has warned of “very strong military action” against Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail, suggesting a quick return to military operations if talks do not progress.
The US suspended military strikes to allow room for diplomatic talks after Iran asked for talks, marking a shift in strategy amid escalating tensions.
Iran has denied direct talks with the US, saying any communication has been through intermediaries and that it has not sought to resume formal talks.
While Trump has indicated that he prefers diplomacy, he has also said that military options remain on the table if Iran continues its aggressive actions.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route for global energy supplies, and ongoing disputes over maritime security in the strait have exacerbated tensions between the US and Iran.
Asked how long he was prepared to wait for a diplomatic solution, Trump said: “There’s not much time. It’s either quick or not at all.”
The remarks came after Washington abruptly suspended a two-week campaign of airstrikes against Iran, marking another shift in Trump’s approach to the five-month-old conflict.
Trump says US-Iran negotiations have a chance of success
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the United States and Iran were engaged in discussions and suggested a potential deal could emerge.
“We’re talking right now,” Trump said.
Asked about patience in negotiations, Trump said: “I have a lot of patience … We’ll see what happens. I think there’s a good chance something could happen.”
He added that diplomacy would only continue if it showed progress.
“And if they do, well, if they don’t, we’ll go back to what we did two days ago,” Trump said.
Trump claimed that Iran sought negotiations after facing strong US military pressure and said that Tehran would not have agreed to talks otherwise.
“They wouldn’t have asked for a meeting if we were doing badly. The only reason they want to meet is because we hit them very hard,” he said.
Iran turned to US for meeting, Trump says
Trump said Tehran had asked for talks through diplomatic intermediaries as well as directly, prompting Washington to suspend military operations.
“They asked us very nicely, please stop, we’ll meet,” Trump said.
“And that’s where we are right now; we’ll see what happens. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll be back to the same thing.”
According to Trump, the pause in the strikes followed Iran’s request for discussions and a temporary cessation of hostilities.
“They have requested a meeting through their alternates and directly, and we are meeting,” he said.
Tehran denies direct negotiations with Washington
Despite Trump’s comments, Iran has denied that direct peace talks with the United States are underway.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said mediators were only passing messages between the two sides and that Tehran was not participating in formal talks.
“Mediators can pass us messages from the American side regarding current developments in the region. But we are not currently involved in any negotiations with the United States,” Baqaei said.
Iran insists it is not seeking a return to talks but will continue a pause in attacks as long as Trump’s cease-fire deal is in place.
After weeks of US-Iranian escalation, the fighting has stopped
The United States and Iran held a ceasefire for the third day in a row on Monday after nearly two weeks of intense military exchanges.
The conflict escalated after a diplomatic breakdown over Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.
The US military campaign began after Washington and its allies accused Tehran of threatening regional security and disrupting maritime traffic.
The Trump administration said the pause in the strikes was to allow space for diplomatic efforts and to assess the consequences of expanding military operations.
Saudi Arabia reports drone strikes during pause in ceasefire
Despite the pause in direct fighting between the US and Iran, tensions continued throughout the region.
Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted drones targeting oil facilities, including sites near the capital Riyadh.
The kingdom accused Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq of launching the drones and said it reserved the right to respond.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have also claimed responsibility for targeting Saudi oil infrastructure, including the East-West pipeline that carries oil to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
The Houthis said the attacks were in retaliation for what they described as Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace.
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The Strait of Hormuz remains a key flashpoint
Iran continues to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway through which a significant portion of global energy supplies pass.
Trump has demanded free passage of vessels through the strait and warned Iran against restrictions on maritime traffic.
The ongoing dispute over Hormuz has added to volatility in global oil markets and raised fears of supply disruptions.
Trump is concerned with America’s missile stockpile
Trump also addressed concerns about U.S. arms supplies, saying the United States has sufficient defense resources while working to increase stockpiles.
“We have a lot of ammunition, of different types,” Trump said.
He criticized the previous Biden administration’s decision to send weapons to Ukraine and said the US was restocking.
“Especially the Patriots will,” Trump added.
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