President Donald Trump late Thursday maintained that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement remains viable, even as both sides exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz. In a blunt warning to Tehran, Trump told reporters, “If there’s no ceasefire, you’re not going to have to know. You’re just going to have to look at one big glow coming out of Iran.” He added, “And they better sign their agreement fast.”
The comments came after a new round of hostilities in the strategic waterway, where U.S. Central Command reported intercepting “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responding with “self-defense strikes.” No American assets were hit, according to the Pentagon. Trump later posted on Truth Social that the Iranian attackers were “completely destroyed.”
According to Axios, the proposed one-page memorandum would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lift U.S. sanctions on Iran, and halt Tehran’s uranium enrichment. It also sets a 30-day window for further negotiations on a nuclear deal. The president abruptly paused a naval operation to guide trapped ships out of the strait on Tuesday evening, just before news of the peace framework emerged.
In his Truth Social post, Trump escalated his rhetoric, writing: “A normal Country would have allowed these Destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal Country. They are led by LUNATICS, and if they had the chance to use a Nuclear Weapon, they would do it, without question — But they’ll never have that opportunity and, just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST!”
The United Arab Emirates, a key U.S. ally, reported on Friday that its air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles and three drones launched from Iran. Three people were injured in the attacks, according to the UAE defense ministry. The incident adds to regional tensions and raises questions about the viability of the ceasefire framework.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pushed back Friday morning, accusing Washington of undermining diplomatic efforts. “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure,” Araghchi wrote on social media. “Is it a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire? Whatever the causes, outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure.”
The developments come amid broader criticism of Trump’s Iran strategy. Experts have warned that the administration’s approach is driving up war costs and deepening a potential quagmire, as detailed in a recent analysis. Meanwhile, Trump’s peace plan has already sparked fury among some conservative allies who view it as too lenient.
With the ceasefire hanging by a thread and fresh violence erupting, the coming days will test whether both sides can salvage the diplomatic track or whether the region is sliding toward a broader conflict.
