‘Clock Is Ticking’: Trump Warns Iran to Secure Deal amid Fears of Renewed War

US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to reach a deal that ends the war, warning Tehran that time is running out.

Trump’s remarks come as the Pakistani-mediated peace talks between the US and Iran stall amid mounting fears that a fragile ceasefire could collapse into renewed fighting.

Dire Warning

Trump warned on Sunday that Iran should secure a deal quickly or face severe consequences. During a phone interview with Axios, the US President said that the “clock is ticking” for Iran to offer a better proposal or it will “get hit much harder than before.”

Earlier, Trump issued a similar warning to Tehran, saying in a social media post that “they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!”

Trump also told Axios that he is “waiting for an updated Iranian proposal” after he rejected Iran’s response to the latest US proposal several days ago. He added that he thinks Tehran remains open to reaching a deal, but he declined to set a deadline for negotiations.

“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,” he noted.

Talks at Deadlock

As a fragile ceasefire came into force on April 8 to pause hostilities that erupted in late February following a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, diplomatic efforts to secure a peace deal have reached a deadlock as the US and Iran rejected several proposals.

Tehran’s latest proposal called for an end to fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon; full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz; ending US naval blockade; and a guarantee that Iran will not come under attack again.

It also demanded compensation for war damages, the release of frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of sanctions and ending a US ban on Iranian oil sales. However, it made no mention of the nuclear issue, according to Iranian media.

In response, Washington set five conditions for Tehran, reported Iranian Fars news agency. These included allowing Iran to keep only one Iranian nuclear facility in operation and transferring its highly enriched uranium to the US.

The conditions also included refusing to pay compensation to Iran; withholding the release of even 25% of Iran’s frozen assets; and conditioning any halt to the war on all fronts on the outcome of negotiations.

Military Action Options

As diplomatic efforts remain deadlocked over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program, Trump is considering a return to military action.

According to Axios, citing two US officials, Trump will meet with his top national security team in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss military options regarding Iran.

This follows a meeting on Saturday at Trump’s Virginia golf club, where he convened Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, among others, to discuss the situation in Iran.

Furthermore, Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. During their call, they discussed the Iran situation and the possibility of resuming war. Netanyahu later convened a limited security meeting, Israeli media reported.

Renewed War Looming

The US and Israel are preparing for a resumption of war, discussing options for renewed attacks on Iran as peace talks stalled.

US officials told the New York Times US-Israeli military options include launching an intensified bombing campaign against military and infrastructure targets and seizing Kharg Island, the crown jewel of Iran’s Arabian Gulf oil exports.

The options also include deploying mainland commandos to extract nuclear material from destroyed facilities. However, military officials warned that the uranium extraction operation carries high risks, requiring thousands of support troops who would likely engage in heavy combat with Iranian ground forces.

In parallel, Iran is preparing for renewed conflict with the US and Israel. A recent assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank noted that Iran has embarked on a series of military movements, asset repositioning and security exercises in case the ceasefire collapses.