Trump Warns Iran: This Is the Last Chance for a Deal

President Donald Trump declared Monday that newly anticipated negotiations with Iran represent the Islamic Republic’s final opportunity to reach an agreement and avoid renewed U.S. military action, signaling that his patience with Tehran has largely expired.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said multiple countries, including Iran and key Gulf partners, had urged him to hold off on planned strikes so that diplomacy could proceed. “They all wanted to give this a last chance. This is a last chance; this is not something that, if it doesn’t happen—this is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” the president stated. He later added that he intended to provide Iran “every last chance before decapitation.”

The comments came one day after Trump announced he had canceled what he described as a massive planned attack on Iran—potentially the largest since World War II—following requests from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iranian officials. In a Truth Social post over the weekend, he said the “perimeters of a deal” had been agreed upon that would include the “Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT” and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. Israel, he noted, joined the United States in the commitment to pause while talks advanced.

Trump outlined a two-phase approach. The first would focus on fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for global energy shipments that has seen sharply reduced traffic during the months-long conflict. He suggested the strait could be completely open as early as Tuesday. The second phase would address Iran’s nuclear program, a process he acknowledged would take longer.

Tensions flared further Monday when Iranian officials denied that direct talks with the United States were underway. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Iran was engaged only in bilateral discussions with Oman, the other coastal state bordering the strait, regarding a possible temporary safe navigation route. Trump responded sharply on Truth Social, calling Iranian leadership “unbelievably duplicitous.” He accused Tehran of requesting meetings and then publicly denying any discussions were occurring, while asserting continued control over the waterway that he said is already under effective U.S. naval dominance.

The latest diplomatic window follows a pattern of escalation and de-escalation in the conflict, now in its sixth month. Previous pauses and interim understandings have broken down amid attacks on shipping, mutual strikes, and disputes over the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil markets had rallied on supply fears before retreating after Trump’s decision to hold off on new attacks.

Trump emphasized that he preferred a negotiated outcome to further military action, saying he was “not looking to kill people.” At the same time, he made clear that failure to produce results quickly would leave the United States prepared to act. Negotiators, including special envoys and Gulf intermediaries, were expected to engage in the coming days. Whether the current effort produces lasting progress on both shipping access and nuclear issues remains uncertain, as Iranian officials continue to frame their diplomacy primarily around arrangements with Oman rather than direct engagement with Washington.

The administration faces competing pressures: the strategic imperative of constraining Iran’s nuclear capabilities and securing energy routes, alongside domestic concerns over prolonged conflict costs and inflation effects from elevated oil prices. Trump’s latest warning underscores that the current pause is conditional and time-limited.