U.S. President pressures Tehran to move quickly on nuclear negotiations while regional instability deepens amid attacks, naval blockades, and renewed military threats
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a new warning to Iran’s leadership on Sunday, saying Tehran must act quickly or “there won’t be anything left,” as a fragile ceasefire between the two sides continues to hold.
“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST ... TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Last week, Tehran submitted a peace proposal to the United States that Trump said he rejected because it lacked sufficient guarantees regarding Iran’s nuclear program, a central issue in ongoing negotiations. On May 11, he told reporters the ceasefire between the two countries was on “massive life support” as the U.S. military continued enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Trump’s comments came as officials in the United Arab Emirates reported that a drone struck a generator at the country’s nuclear power plant, sparking a fire. Authorities said no injuries were reported and radiation levels remained unchanged.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said emergency diesel generators were supplying power to the UAE plant’s “unit 3” and called for “maximum military restraint” near nuclear facilities, adding that it was closely monitoring the situation.
During the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, attacks that killed a large portion of the Iranian leadership, Tehran repeatedly targeted the UAE and other Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases, striking civilian and energy infrastructure sites.
Iranian officials signaled Sunday that they are prepared for fighting to resume.
Iranian military official Abolfazl Shekarchi said future U.S. strikes on Iran would be met with “crushing and severe blows for that country” and warned the attacks would create a “self-created quagmire” for the Trump administration, according to Iran’s semi-official IRNA news agency.
Washington has demanded that Tehran dismantle its nuclear program and stop attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, meanwhile, has called for compensation for war damages, an end to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, and a halt to fighting across all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel continues battling the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Trump also held discussions this week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping regarding whether Beijing could help resolve the conflict. He has previously threatened to resume attacks if Iran refuses to agree to a deal. China remains one of the largest buyers of Iranian oil.
Before last month’s ceasefire announcement, Trump warned that the United States would target Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran failed to reach an agreement with Washington. The administration has demanded an end to attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and guarantees that Iran will terminate its nuclear ambitions.
Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have triggered one of the largest oil supply crises in modern history, driving prices sharply higher. The U.S. military said Sunday that it had redirected 81 commercial vessels and disabled four others as part of efforts to enforce compliance with the blockade on Iranian ports.
Israel and Lebanon last week agreed to a 45-day extension of their ceasefire, although clashes have continued despite the truce.
