US President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to Iran after Tehran reportedly gave a lukewarm response to Washington's proposed five-point framework for renewed nuclear talks.
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump warned that Iran was running out of time to strike a deal with the United States.
"For Iran, the clock is ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE," Trump wrote.
The warning came just hours after Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the phone on Sunday. According to Israeli media reports, the two leaders discussed the possibility of renewed military action against Iran, while Trump also briefed Netanyahu about his recent diplomatic visit to China.
Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency earlier reported that the United States had presented Tehran with a five-point proposal aimed at reviving negotiations. The reported conditions included transferring uranium stockpiles to the US and accepting fresh limits on Iran's nuclear programme.
According to the report, Washington also refused to release even 25 per cent of Iran's frozen assets or compensate Tehran for damages caused during the conflict.
In response, Iran reportedly demanded an end to military action across the region, including in Lebanon — a major sticking point for Israel. Tehran has also called for the US to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Although the US and Iran agreed to a fragile ceasefire more than a month ago, negotiations have since stalled, with both sides refusing to back down from their core demands. Diplomatic efforts to permanently end the conflict have so far failed, while the ongoing war continues to disrupt global energy supplies, push oil prices higher, and unsettle international markets.
The prolonged conflict has also increased pressure on the American economy, emerging as a potential political challenge for Trump ahead of the upcoming midterm elections in November.
According to officials familiar with the negotiations cited by Axios, Trump still wants a deal to prevent further escalation. However, Iran's refusal to compromise on its nuclear programme and rejection of key US demands have once again brought military action back into consideration.
