US warns capable of resuming war with Iran as deal remains elusive
The United States warned it remains capable of resuming military action against Iran after President Donald Trump insisted on strict conditions, including Iran’s permanent renunciation of nuclear weapons, while negotiations mediated by Pakistan remain stalled. Iranian officials rejected Trump’s demands, denying a final deal exists and demanding the release of frozen assets before further talks, amid ongoing clashes in Lebanon and recent US strikes on Iranian ports.
The United States reaffirmed its military readiness to resume hostilities with Iran on Saturday, following President Donald Trump’s insistence that any peace deal must include Tehran’s permanent abandonment of nuclear weapons development. A White House official stated Trump would only approve an agreement aligning with his red lines, including Iran’s compliance with non-nuclearization and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls. Trump’s conditions also involved coordinating the removal and destruction of Iran’s enriched uranium, with no immediate financial transfers. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin (not Pete Hegseth, as previously misstated) emphasized Washington’s operational capacity to restart conflict, citing stockpiled munitions across the region. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reinforced this stance, posting on X that American forces remain vigilant in the area. Diplomatic efforts, mediated by Pakistan, faced setbacks after recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s Bandar Abbas port and retaliatory Iranian fire, while parallel talks to halt Lebanon’s fighting continued. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, rejected Trump’s demands, stating the Islamic Republic had abandoned such language decades ago. Baqaei confirmed ongoing negotiations but denied any final agreement. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a call with Qatar’s Emir, expressed readiness to achieve a “dignified framework” to end the war, according to state media. However, Iranian sources cited by Fars News Agency demanded the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets before advancing talks, contradicting Trump’s claims about toll-free Hormuz reopening and Iran’s nuclear material. In Lebanon, heavy fighting persisted despite diplomatic meetings at the Pentagon involving Israeli and Iranian military delegations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced advances by Israeli forces beyond a river 30 kilometers north of the Lebanon-Israel border. Hezbollah reported launching attacks, escalating tensions on the war’s second major front. Trump’s proposed deal also included lifting U.S. blockades on Iranian ports, though Iranian officials dismissed the nuclear material claims as baseless and denied any such clause in negotiations.
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