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Iran-US war: Trump warns Iran of possible fresh military action despite temporary pause in attacks, says ‘May have to give them another…’
US President Donald Trump has once again warned Iran amid continuing tensions and uncertainty over the ceasefire between the two countries. His remarks came just hours after reports suggested that planned US strikes had been put on hold. “I hope we don’t have to do the war, but we may have to give them another big hit… I’m not sure yet. You’ll know very soon,” Trump said.
Trump Says Iran Has Limited Time for a Deal
Trump said the US is giving Iran “a limited period of time” to agree to a deal because Washington does not want Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. “There’s no question in my mind that they’d use it, there’s no question, and I deal with these people. They’re extremely radicalised,” he added.
The US President also claimed that military action was very close to being approved. “We were all set to go… it would have been happening right now,” he said while referring to possible strikes on Iran.
Ceasefire Still Fragile Between Washington and Tehran
A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been in place since April 8. Both sides have exchanged proposals through intermediaries in an attempt to reduce tensions and end the conflict that began after US strikes on February 28. Earlier, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that Gulf leaders had requested him to delay military action against Iran. But Trump also said he had instructed the US military to stay fully prepared for action if talks failed.
Iran Reacts Strongly to Trump’s Remarks
Iran responded sharply to Trump’s latest comments. Iranian officials warned that the country would respond strongly if the United States resumes attacks. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on X that Trump was “calling a ‘threat’ a ‘chance for peace’!”
Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia also warned that Tehran could “open new fronts against” the United States if attacks continue. He further said Iran had used the ceasefire period to “strengthen its combat capabilities”.
UAE Reports Drone Attack Linked to Iraqi Territory
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said that a drone attack targeting the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on May 17 originated from Iraqi territory. According to the Emirati defence ministry, technical investigations confirmed that three drones involved in the attack came from Iraq. A senior UAE official reportedly suggested that Iran or Iran-backed regional groups may have been behind the incident.
Qatar Says More Time Needed for Peace Efforts
Qatar has said that ongoing diplomatic efforts still need more time. Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari stated that Pakistan-mediated talks aimed at reducing tensions between Iran and the United States are still continuing.
First published on: May 19, 2026 10:55 PM IST
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