US President Donald Trump struck sharply contrasting tones on Sunday as the standoff with Iran continued, pairing a warning of major strikes with an offer for fresh negotiations.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire and suggested that talks would resume soon, even as his language grew increasingly forceful.
Trump Accuses Iran of Ceasefire Violation
“Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz, A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it?” Trump wrote.
He followed this with a diplomatic note: “My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan, They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations.”
Escalating Rhetoric and Economic Claims
Trump’s message then turned more aggressive, claiming the US blockade had already shut down the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it. They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing.
In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the US, Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be ‘the tough guy!’”
He added that Washington was still offering what he described as “a very fair and reasonable DEAL”.
Stark Warning Alongside Offer of Talks
The statement quickly shifted again, with Trump issuing a direct threat. “I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!”
Fragile Ceasefire Under Strain
The conflict between the US and Iran began after American and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran on February 28. Following intense escalation, both sides entered a ceasefire agreement last to last week, though tensions have remained high.
Before the truce, Trump had warned of severe consequences, including destroying Iran’s civilian infrastructure and stating that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if no agreement was reached. He also threatened to “take out the entire country” in a single night.
Also Read: 3000 troops, 10 jets, 5 warships: What is reason behind India’s big move and is it a major concern for US, China?
Strait of Hormuz at the Center of Dispute
Just hours before a deadline set by Trump for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan helped broker a two-week ceasefire. Under the agreement, Iran allowed passage through the key oil route, which remains central to the conflict.
However, the first round of talks in Islamabad last weekend failed to produce any breakthrough.
The ceasefire has since appeared unstable. While the US maintained its own blockade in the strait, Iran initially declared the passage “fully open” on Friday, only to impose restrictions again on Saturday. Tehran cited “repeated breaches of trust” by Washington, accusing it of continuing a naval blockade targeting Iranian vessels and ports despite the truce.