President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States could launch another attack on Iran within days if Tehran fails to reach an agreement to end the ongoing conflict. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump noted he had been just an hour away from ordering strikes the previous day before deciding to pause amid a new proposal from Iranian officials.
"I was an hour away from making the decision to go today," Trump stated. He added that Iranian leaders are "begging for a deal," and warned that a limited U.S. strike could come as soon as Friday, Saturday, or Sunday if no progress is made. "We can't let them have a new nuclear weapon," he emphasized, setting a short timeline for any potential action.
The latest developments come a day after Trump indicated he had paused plans to resume hostilities following Tehran's fresh offer. According to Iranian state media, that proposal includes ending fighting across all fronts, including in Lebanon, the withdrawal of U.S. forces from areas near Iran, and reparations for damage from prior U.S. and Israeli strikes. Tehran is also seeking the lifting of sanctions, release of frozen assets, and an end to the U.S. naval blockade in the region, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told IRNA news agency.
Trump described the Iranian terms as little changed from a previous offer he had dismissed as "garbage" last week. Still, he expressed optimism that an accord preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon could be reached without further escalation. "There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out," Trump said Monday. "If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I would be very happy."
"Well, I mean, I'm saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week, a limited period of time, because we can't let them have a new nuclear weapon."
Iranian officials offered a different perspective on the pause in U.S. plans. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security committee, posted on X that Trump had realized any attack would trigger a "decisive military response" from Tehran. The comments reflect ongoing tensions that trace back to the war Trump initiated in late February, which included U.S.-Israeli bombing campaigns that killed thousands in Iran before a ceasefire took hold in early April.
Israeli operations in Lebanon, aimed at the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, have killed thousands more and displaced hundreds of thousands. Iranian strikes on Israel and Gulf states have resulted in dozens of deaths. The ceasefire has largely held, though recent drone launches from Iraq toward Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have been attributed to Iran and its allies.
A Pakistani source involved in mediation efforts confirmed that Islamabad had relayed the Iranian proposal to Washington. The sides "keep changing their goalposts," the source said, noting limited time remains to avert renewed conflict. Pakistan hosted the only round of peace talks last month.
Trump faces pressure to secure an accord that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil supplies. He has previously threatened heavy strikes if no deal emerges, while expressing hope that one is near. The administration imposed new sanctions Tuesday on an Iranian foreign currency exchange house and companies it described as fronts for Iranian banks.
The war's original aims included curbing Iran's support for regional militias, dismantling its nuclear program, destroying missile capabilities, and fostering conditions for regime change. Yet Iran retains its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium and the ability to threaten neighbors with missiles, drones, and proxy forces. The clerical leadership in Tehran weathered the U.S. onslaught and a mass uprising earlier this year without signs of organized opposition.
Reuters could not confirm whether military preparations for new strikes are underway. Officials in both Washington and Tehran continue to exchange messages through intermediaries as the window for diplomacy narrows. Any renewed U.S. action would mark a significant escalation in a conflict that has already reshaped regional dynamics.
Analysts note that the coming days will be critical, with both sides appearing to adjust positions rapidly. Trump has signaled flexibility if Iran commits to forgoing nuclear weapons, but he has also made clear that military options remain on the table. Iranian reports suggest the latest offer mirrors earlier ones, raising questions about whether a breakthrough is truly possible before the deadline Trump outlined.