US Warns Iran of Fresh War as Nuclear Deal Talks Hit Roadblock

US Warns Iran of Fresh War as Nuclear Deal Talks Hit Roadblock

Fresh fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East have emerged after the United States warned it is fully prepared to restart military operations against Iran if ongoing negotiations fail to produce a peace agreement.

The warning came as efforts to secure a diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran remain uncertain, despite reports that an initial ceasefire extension framework is awaiting final approval from President Donald Trump.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue defence summit in Singapore on Saturday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that Washington has the military capacity to resume hostilities if necessary.

He said the United States remains fully equipped to launch fresh strikes, stressing that American military stockpiles are strong enough to sustain operations both in the Middle East and across other global theatres.

The comments signalled growing pressure on Tehran as diplomatic negotiations continue behind closed doors.

The warning followed a two-hour high-level meeting held by President Trump and senior national security officials in the White House Situation Room on Friday to assess a proposed framework aimed at extending the current ceasefire by 60 days.

US officials familiar with the talks said the draft agreement remains under review, with Trump yet to make a final decision.

The White House has maintained that any US-Iran peace deal must meet Trump’s strict red lines, including a permanent guarantee that Iran will never develop nuclear weapons and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted international shipping.

A White House official said Trump would only approve a deal that protects American strategic interests and prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.

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The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime oil routes, has become a central point of contention in the talks.

The waterway carries nearly one-fifth of global oil shipments, and its disruption has triggered market instability, pushed up oil prices and raised fears of wider economic consequences.

As part of the proposed framework, Trump has reportedly demanded that Tehran remove naval mines from the waterway and guarantee toll-free commercial access.

The proposal would also reportedly require cooperation on dismantling Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, while the United States would ease certain restrictions affecting Iranian shipping and port access.

However, Tehran has sharply rejected several of Washington’s demands.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei insisted no final agreement had been reached and dismissed what he described as attempts to impose conditions on the Islamic Republic.

He said Iran had long rejected the language of ultimatums and confirmed that indirect diplomatic exchanges were still ongoing through regional mediators.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly told Qatar’s Emir during a phone conversation that Tehran remains willing to pursue what he called a “dignified framework” for peace, provided Iran’s sovereignty is respected.

Meanwhile, Iranian state-linked media challenged several claims made by Trump regarding the negotiations.

The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that Tehran is demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets before agreeing to the next phase of discussions.

The report also denied claims that Iran had agreed to permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls or surrender control over its nuclear material.

Military tensions have further complicated the fragile diplomacy.

Recent US airstrikes on Bandar Abbas, a strategic southern Iranian port, were met with retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks, raising fears that both nations could slide back into direct conflict.

Regional efforts to broker a durable ceasefire are being led by Pakistan, with support from Qatar and Oman, while parallel negotiations continue over the conflict in Lebanon, which Iran insists must form part of any broader settlement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added another layer of complexity by announcing that Israeli forces had expanded military operations, even as military delegations from both countries held separate consultations in Washington.

For many ordinary Iranians, the mixed signals from both sides have created uncertainty over whether peace is genuinely close.

A resident of Tonekabon in northern Iran said public statements from Washington and Tehran appear designed more to satisfy domestic audiences than reflect actual progress at the negotiating table.

Analysts say the next few days could prove decisive as negotiators attempt to bridge deep divisions over Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, regional security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Gulf.

With tensions still high, the prospect of renewed military confrontation remains a serious concern for global markets and regional stability.

US Warns Iran of Fresh War as Nuclear Deal Talks Hit Roadblock