Former United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, warning that it must accept a deal to end ongoing hostilities or face renewed and intensified US military strikes.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump said any agreement to halt the war would bring an end to what he described as the “Epic Fury” campaign, referring to the US military operation against Iran.
“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,” he wrote.
He added that failure to reach an agreement would result in a more aggressive military response. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” Trump stated.
The comments came amid reports from Axios that Washington and Tehran were nearing agreement on a one-page memorandum of understanding aimed at laying the groundwork for broader nuclear negotiations and potentially ending the conflict.
In a related development, Trump announced a temporary pause in a US military operation intended to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The operation, described as “Project Freedom,” was suspended after just one day.
Trump said the pause followed requests from “mediator Pakistan and other countries,” adding that “great progress” had been made toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran.
However, he noted that the US blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place, even as Iran continues its own restrictions on the vital shipping route, which has already disrupted global markets and pushed fuel prices higher.
According to his statement, the suspension is temporary and intended to allow space for negotiations to conclude. “We have mutually agreed that… Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” he said.
The evolving situation underscores continued volatility in US-Iran relations, with military pressure and diplomatic engagement appearing to proceed in parallel as global stakeholders watch closely.
