Trump gives Iran one week to reach deal, warns bombing will resume if talks fail

Trump said any agreement would depend on Tehran accepting previously discussed terms.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

President Trump on Wednesday seemed to give Iran one week to reach an agreement with the United States, while warning that bombing would resume at a significantly greater intensity if talks fail.

Speaking after a direct phone call with the president, Fox News anchor Bret Baier said Trump is expressing cautious optimism about the emerging deal.

“He is cautiously optimistic about this deal and the memorandum of understanding, and believes it could lead to broader progress,” Baier said. “I asked him what the timeframe would be, and he puts it at a week, getting everything wrapped up.”

Shortly afterward, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump appeared to soften the notion of a firm deadline. “There’s never a deadline,” he said. “It will happen, but there’s no deadline. We want to keep everyone alive.” He reiterated that Iran “must not have nuclear weapons, and it will not,” adding that Tehran has already agreed to that principle.

In a separate statement posted Wednesday morning, Trump said any agreement would depend on Tehran accepting previously discussed terms.

“Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” Trump wrote. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the United States would prefer a diplomatic outcome but remained prepared for military action.

“We prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded to defend our people, our ships, our aircraft, and this mission without hesitation,” Hegseth said.

According to a report published by Axios, the United States and Iran are nearing a one-page memorandum of understanding intended to end the war in the Middle East and establish a framework for broader nuclear negotiations.

The report said the agreement would trigger a 30-day period of intensive negotiations, likely in Geneva or Islamabad. During that time, the US naval blockade would gradually be lifted. If negotiations collapse, American forces could resume military operations.

Reuters reported, citing an Israeli source, that Israel had not been aware Trump was close to an agreement with Iran and had been preparing for an escalation in the fighting.

A senior Israeli official said the Israeli government had maintained ongoing contact with Washington.

“We were not surprised by Trump’s statement. The prime minister is in continuous contact with the president, they speak almost every day, and with senior White House officials. At the moment Netanyahu is holding consultations with the relevant officials,” the official said.

A diplomatic source added that Trump continues to insist on “the removal of the nuclear material” and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to prepare “for any scenario, including a return to fighting if required.”