US President Donald Trump has accused Tehran of a "serious violation" of the current ceasefire following fresh hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, while simultaneously confirming that high-stakes negotiations are set to resume in Pakistan this week.
ABC reported the President warned that a peace deal would be reached either "the nice way or the hard way," asserting his resolve to end what he termed the "Iran killing machine."
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'A Total Violation'
The US President's remarks followed reports of gunfire in the strategic waterway over the weekend. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Iranian forces "decided to fire bullets" at international vessels, including a French ship and a British freighter.
"That wasn't nice, was it?" Trump remarked, characterizing the attacks as a blatant breach of the standing ceasefire agreement. The incident coincided with Tehran's decision to re-close the Strait of Hormuz, a move the President dismissed by noting that the U.S. naval blockade had already effectively halted trade.
"They're helping us without knowing," Trump stated, claiming Iran is losing $500 million a day due to the closure, while asserting the United States "loses nothing" as global shipping diverts to American ports in Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska.
'No More Mr. Nice Guy'
While the President maintained that a "fair and reasonable deal" is on the table, he paired the offer with a severe ultimatum. Should Tehran reject the terms, Trump renewed his threat to dismantle Iran's infrastructure.
"The United States is going to knock out every single power plant, and every single bridge, in Iran," he warned. "They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy... it will be my honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done by other presidents for the last 47 years."
Fox News added that Trump said Iran should "save it's leadership lives" with the deal.
ALSO READ | Iran Reasserts Control Over Strait Of Hormuz As Shipping Comes To A Standstill
Diplomatic Push in Pakistan
Despite the aggressive rhetoric, a diplomatic window remains open. Trump confirmed that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan, for a fresh round of negotiations.
The US representatives are expected to arrive by Monday evening, with formal talks scheduled to begin on Tuesday. According to reports from Fox News, these discussions-viewed as a final attempt to secure a long-term agreement before the ceasefire officially expires-could extend into Wednesday.
The confirmation of the Islamabad summit comes at a critical juncture. While Iran cites the ongoing U.S. blockade as the reason for its renewed maritime restrictions, the international community remains on edge, watching whether the " Islamabad dialogue" can avert a total military confrontation.
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