US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, declaring that “the clock is ticking” as fragile negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Tehran, Washington and Israel appear close to collapse.
In a strongly worded message posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump warned Iranian leaders to accelerate efforts toward a settlement or risk devastating consequences.
“They better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them,” Trump wrote. “TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!”
The remarks came shortly before the US president was scheduled to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid growing fears that the ceasefire brokered earlier this year could unravel completely.
The warning underscores the increasingly tense atmosphere surrounding negotiations that have struggled for weeks to produce meaningful progress. While diplomats from several countries, including Pakistan, have attempted to mediate between Tehran and Washington, both sides remain deeply divided over the terms of any permanent agreement.
Iranian state-linked media reported on Sunday that the latest American response to Tehran’s proposals offered no significant concessions, fuelling concerns that negotiations may have reached a dead end.
The semi-official Mehr news agency said the US position would likely lead to an “impasse in the negotiations,” while other Iranian outlets accused Washington of refusing to acknowledge Iran’s core security and sovereignty concerns.
Trump’s latest statement echoed comments he made shortly before the April ceasefire agreement, when he warned that an entire “civilisation” could perish if Iran failed to agree to US conditions. Although the truce temporarily reduced hostilities, tensions have remained high, with sporadic exchanges of fire and continuing military activity across the region.
Earlier this week, Trump described the ceasefire as being on “massive life support” after rejecting Iranian proposals that he called “totally unacceptable.”
Iran, however, has defended its negotiating position. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei insisted Tehran’s demands were both “responsible” and “generous,” arguing that Iran was seeking guarantees to prevent further escalation rather than prolong the conflict.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Tehran’s proposals included several major demands directed at both the United States and Israel. Among them was an immediate end to military operations on all fronts, including Israeli attacks targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran also reportedly demanded an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which Washington has enforced in an effort to pressure Tehran economically and militarily. Iranian negotiators further sought guarantees that no additional attacks would be carried out against Iranian territory.
The proposals also included demands for financial compensation for wartime damage and recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The narrow waterway remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in the crisis. Iran has continued to exert effective control over the Strait since the outbreak of hostilities, severely disrupting global energy markets.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making any disruption there a major concern for governments and investors worldwide. Oil prices have surged in recent months amid fears that prolonged instability could severely affect global energy supplies.
Tehran has argued that its restrictions in the Strait are a direct response to what it calls “aggression” by the United States and Israel. Washington and its allies, however, have accused Iran of weaponising global trade routes and threatening international economic stability.
Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that the US had responded with five major conditions of its own.
Among the reported American demands was a requirement that Iran reduce its nuclear infrastructure to a single operational site and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States.
The future of Iran’s nuclear programme remains one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations.
For years, Washington and its allies have accused Tehran of pursuing the capability to build nuclear weapons, an allegation Iran consistently denies. Iranian officials maintain that the country’s nuclear activities are solely for civilian and energy purposes.
Trump had previously insisted that Iran completely dismantle its nuclear programme, but recent comments suggest a possible shift in the US position.
On Friday, the president indicated he might accept a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear activities instead of demanding their total elimination. Analysts viewed the remark as a potential sign of flexibility, although it remains unclear whether the proposal would satisfy either Tehran or Israel.
Israeli leaders have repeatedly insisted that Iran must never be allowed to retain the capacity to produce nuclear weapons. Netanyahu has been among the strongest advocates of maintaining military pressure on Tehran, arguing that any compromise leaving Iran with advanced nuclear capabilities would endanger Israeli security.
The current conflict escalated dramatically on 28 February, when Israeli and US forces launched large-scale air strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
The strikes triggered weeks of retaliatory attacks and raised fears of a wider regional war involving multiple Middle Eastern actors. Although the ceasefire announced in April halted the most intense phase of fighting, isolated clashes and military operations have continued.
The United States has simultaneously intensified economic and naval pressure on Iran through sanctions and maritime enforcement measures aimed at weakening Tehran’s negotiating position.
Iran has described the US blockade of its ports as an act of economic warfare and insists that any lasting peace agreement must include its removal.
Diplomatic efforts to bridge the divide have so far produced little visible progress.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in the talks, maintaining communication channels with both Washington and Tehran. Pakistani officials have sought to reduce tensions and encourage compromise, hoping to prevent the conflict from destabilising the broader region.
However, observers say the gap between the two sides remains substantial.
Iran continues to demand security guarantees, economic relief and recognition of its regional influence, while the United States and Israel insist on strict limitations to Tehran’s nuclear and military capabilities.
International concern is also growing over the broader economic impact of the crisis. Rising energy prices, disrupted shipping routes and fears of wider military escalation have unsettled global markets and added pressure on world leaders to prevent another major conflict in the Middle East.
Diplomats involved in the negotiations warn that the coming days may prove decisive.
Trump’s latest remarks suggest the White House is losing patience with the pace of negotiations, while Iranian officials appear unwilling to retreat from their core demands without meaningful concessions from Washington.
