President Donald Trump warned Monday that the United States will resume heavy military strikes against Iran if ongoing diplomatic negotiations fail to achieve a swift resolution to the Middle East crisis.
Washington and Tehran offered conflicting accounts regarding the nature of the diplomatic efforts following nearly two weeks of US-Israeli military strikes in the region, which began in late February.
Depleted US missile defense stockpiles and regional risks reportedly influenced Washington's recent decision to pause its planned strikes on Iranian infrastructure and naval targets along the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump's Warning
"I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before," said Donald Trump, President of the United States.
The military pause followed advice from senior military leaders, including top commander Adm. Brad Cooper, who indicated that initial bombing operations had reached their limit.
"We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action," said Donald Trump.
When asked about the timeline allowed for diplomatic progress, Trump signaled that decisions would be made quickly. "Not much time.
Either it goes fast or not at all," he said.
In response, Iranian officials denied holding direct talks with Washington to resolve the escalation, clarifying that regional mediators are handling communication.
"Mediators may convey messages from the American side to us regarding current developments in the region.
But at present, we are not engaged in any negotiations with the United States," said Esmaeil Baqaei, Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Iranian representatives confirmed ongoing technical discussions with neighboring Oman regarding safe navigation and transit frameworks through the strategic waterway.
"The goal is for Iran and Oman, as two coastal states, to develop mechanisms to ensure safe shipping in the strait of Hormuz, while respecting the sovereign rights of the two coastal states and also preserving Iran's security and national interests," said Esmaeil Baqaei.
Maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted, dropping from an average of 130 ships daily to roughly five transits per day, according to the United Nations Office for Project Services.
