After weeks of signaling optimism about a possible breakthrough with Tehran, US President Donald Trump has dramatically hardened his tone, warning that Iran will “pay the price” for what he described as delaying negotiations over a potential agreement with Washington.
The statement came as tensions between the two countries escalated again following a fresh exchange of military strikes, even as diplomatic efforts continued behind the scenes to salvage talks.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of dragging out the negotiating process and suggested that the opportunity for a favorable agreement may be slipping away. “Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!” he wrote.
The US president did not explain what consequences he was referring to. His comments followed a new round of American strikes against Iranian targets after an Army Apache helicopter was reportedly brought down near the Strait of Hormuz.
US officials described the military response as a warning rather than an attempt to derail ongoing diplomacy. One American official indicated that Washington does not believe the latest military action will prevent future negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
