U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face attacks “at a much higher level” if it does not agree to a peace deal with the United States. In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump said the war could come to an end if Iran accepts the proposed agreement. He also stated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open for global shipping if a deal is reached.
His comments came shortly after reports from Axios claimed that the U.S. and Iran were getting closer to a possible agreement that could end their two-month conflict. According to the report, Washington is waiting for Iran’s response to several important issues within the next 48 hours. Following the news, oil prices dropped sharply while stock markets and global bonds saw gains as investors reacted positively to the possibility of peace.
Trump later warned that if Iran rejects the deal, “the bombing starts,” adding that it would be stronger and more intense than previous attacks. A Pakistani government official also told reporters that there is a strong chance a proposal to end the war could arrive in the coming days. Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed earlier that it is currently reviewing a 14-point peace proposal from the United States.
According to Axios, the possible agreement could include Iran temporarily stopping nuclear enrichment, the U.S. removing sanctions on Iran, and both countries easing control over ship movements in the Strait of Hormuz. Many parts of the agreement are still dependent on final negotiations between both sides.
A ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has been active since April 7 to allow peace talks to continue, although tensions have remained high. Earlier this week, Iran reportedly attacked U.S. forces assisting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and launched new attacks on the United Arab Emirates. In response, the U.S. said it destroyed six Iranian boats that interfered with commercial vessels. Despite the recent clashes, hopes for peace increased again after Trump announced he was pausing “Project Freedom,” a U.S. military operation created to help guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz while negotiations continue.
Trump later said that “great progress” had been made toward reaching a final agreement with Iran.
