President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that he is awaiting Iran’s response to a U.S. Peace proposal, stating that if the Islamic Republic fails to provide “100% good answers,” he would consider resuming military strikes against the country. The remarks, made during a closed-door meeting with congressional leaders, mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric between the two nations, which have been locked in a decades-old standoff marked by nuclear tensions, proxy conflicts and economic warfare.
Trump’s comments come amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, where Iranian-backed militias have carried out attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in recent months. The U.S. Has attributed these incidents to Tehran, a claim Iran denies. The president’s latest statements signal a shift from his administration’s previous approach, which prioritized diplomatic engagement through the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, later abandoned by Trump in 2018.
Officials familiar with the internal discussions described the U.S. Proposal as a framework aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and addressing its regional influence. However, details of the plan remain classified, and no official document has been released. A senior State Department official confirmed that the proposal includes “measurable steps” toward denuclearization but emphasized that “the onus is on Iran to demonstrate compliance.”
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Mohammad Baharivand responded to Trump’s remarks by reiterating that the country would not “bow to threats” and accused the U.S. Of seeking to “undermine its sovereignty.” The statement did not address the specific terms of the proposal, leaving the next steps unclear. Meanwhile, U.S. Allies in the region, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, have expressed concern over the potential for renewed conflict, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that “any military action by the U.S. Could have catastrophic consequences for the Middle East.”
The Pentagon has not publicly outlined plans for renewed strikes, but military analysts note that the U.S. Maintains a significant presence in the Gulf, including aircraft carriers and missile defense systems. A defense official stated that “all options remain on the table,” but emphasized that “diplomacy is the preferred path.”
Trump’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who argue that the administration’s “blunt approach” risks provoking a wider conflict. Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the president’s rhetoric “reckless” and urged him to engage with international partners to de-escalate the situation. A White House spokesperson declined to comment beyond reiterating Trump’s statement.
