President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that Iran faces a devastating new round of military strikes if Tehran refuses to finalize terms to end the 67-day war with the United States.
Speaking with The New York Post on Wednesday morning, Trump said it was still “too soon” to begin thinking about face-to-face peace negotiations, despite growing reports that U.S. and Iranian negotiators were inching closer to a framework agreement brokered through Pakistan.
Asked whether The Post should prepare to return to Islamabad for another round of diplomacy, Trump quickly shut down the idea.
“I don’t think so,” the president said.
“I think we’ll do it — it’s too far,” he added. “No, it’s too much.”
The comments came just moments after Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran in a TRUTH Social post that mixed optimism about peace with a blunt military ultimatum.
“Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” Trump wrote.
“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”
The president’s remarks signaled that while diplomacy remains alive, the White House is still preparing for the possibility that negotiations could collapse at any moment.
Trump has repeatedly credited Pakistan — particularly Pakistani defense chief Asim Munir — with helping facilitate indirect talks between Washington and Tehran during the grinding regional conflict.
The president previously suggested he would consider traveling to Pakistan personally to sign a formal peace agreement out of respect for Islamabad’s role in bringing both sides to the table.
But Wednesday’s comments suggested Trump is not yet ready to publicly embrace a diplomatic victory lap.
The conflict has centered heavily around the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that handles a massive portion of the world’s oil shipments. Iran repeatedly threatened or disrupted maritime traffic during the war, prompting the Trump administration to launch “Operation Epic Fury” and later “Project Freedom” to secure shipping lanes and pressure Tehran economically and militarily.
Trump’s reference to reopening the Hormuz Strait “to all, including Iran” appeared to hint that sanctions relief or maritime guarantees could be part of a broader settlement package now under discussion.
Still, the president made clear the military option remains very much on the table.
The call with The Post ended abruptly Wednesday morning when Trump said he had to meet with “the generals” — a terse sign that even as diplomatic channels remain active, the administration continues preparing for escalation if negotiations unravel.
More over at The New York Post:
Trump tells Post 'too soon' to prep for Iran peace signing after reports deal near https://t.co/JY24Odvk9P pic.twitter.com/LjQ0oHvvNX
— New York Post (@nypost) May 6, 2026
