Middle East Conflict: Agree to US terms or face Annihilation, Donald Trump Warns Iran

Washington: Amidst the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump issued a stern ultimatum to Iran on Wednesday. He stated that Iran must either accept the proposed agreement to end the conflict or face massive bombardment at the hands of the United States. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that if Iran agrees to abide by the stipulated conditions, the "Epic Fury" campaign will come to an immediate end. However, if they do not agree, the bombardment will commence—an assault far more intense and destructive than anything witnessed previously.

Notably, this statement comes at a time when the US media outlet Axios reported that Washington and Tehran had come remarkably close to agreeing on a one-page Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the conflict and paving the way for comprehensive nuclear negotiations. In an interview with the 'New York Post', Trump characterized the prospect of direct talks with Iran—facilitated through Pakistan—as a "very long shot." It is worth noting that Pakistan has been playing the role of a mediator in the peace negotiations between the two sides.

What did Donald Trump say?

Earlier, late Tuesday night, Trump announced the sudden suspension of "Project Freedom"—a US military operation launched to extricate commercial vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. He described this move as an opportunity to finalize the agreement aimed at ending the conflict. Trump clarified that the US blockade on Iranian ports would remain fully in force.

Writing on social media, he stated that the decision to halt "Project Freedom" was taken at the request of the mediator, Pakistan, and other nations. Trump claimed that significant progress is being made toward reaching a "complete and final agreement" with Tehran. He added that both sides agree that the blockade will remain fully operational; however, "Project Freedom" has been temporarily paused to facilitate the finalization and signing of the agreement.

What Does Donald Trump Want?

Given the series of contradictory statements repeatedly issued by the US President regarding the Iran issue, his actual policy remains unclear. He has repeatedly claimed that he has 'all the time in the world' to resolve this conflict, but a few days ago, he signaled to Congress that this war—which began on February 28—has already ended.