Trump warns Iran again as Israel stays on alert
US-Israeli war on Iran enters tense seventy-seventh day
On the 77th day of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, President Donald Trump used a televised interview to underscore the fragility of the moment and to signal that Washington’s patience may be running out. Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump warned of possible renewed military action, saying, “I’m not going to be much more patient,” and arguing that “any sane person would make a deal.” His blunt line—meant to prod Tehran toward concessions—came with fresh allegations that Iran has been rebuilding missile capabilities in recent weeks.
“Iran has probably dug up some missiles from underground,” Trump said, adding, “We know exactly what they’re doing.” Whether meant to reassure domestic audiences or to send a calculated threat, the comment reflects a posture that mixes public toughness with the private diplomacy playing out behind the scenes. In the interview, Trump reiterated a core U.S. line: Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons. He framed that aim as defensive, saying Tehran would use such weapons against Israel, the wider Middle East and the United States if allowed to do so.
The interview also highlighted close coordination with Israel. Israeli officials said their forces would remain on high alert over the weekend in case Washington decides to escalate, and noted that any U.S. action would be coordinated with the Israeli military. Those comments underline the delicate choreography between two allies whose security interests are tightly intertwined—and whose choices risk drawing the wider region deeper into conflict.
Trump’s remarks came as he wrapped a two-day state visit to China, and he used the platform to describe discussions with President Xi Jinping about Iran. According to Trump, Xi assured him Beijing would not supply military equipment to Tehran and expressed a desire for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open. Trump said Xi was unhappy with Iran’s attempts to extract fees from ships passing through the waterway and that he supported efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran. The Chinese Foreign Ministry framed the visit differently, noting Xi’s discussions about “harmony among all beings” during the Temple of Heaven stop—language that softened the tone but did little to change the geopolitical stakes.
On one substantive policy point, Trump signaled some flexibility. He said he preferred that the United States take control of Iran’s enriched uranium, but conceded that storing it under international monitoring could be acceptable—marking a shift from earlier insistence that the material be exported abroad. That nuance suggests negotiators are still exploring technical fixes even as political red lines hold firm.
Not everyone accepts the premise that pressure will force Tehran to capitulate. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the notion that military coercion can defeat his country. His remarks point to a resilient narrative inside Iran: that external pressure breeds domestic cohesion and fuels alternative partnerships.
Iran’s diplomats took their case to the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, where Araghchi urged member countries to resist what he called “American bullying.” He called on nations facing coercion to work together to consign such tactics to the “dustbin of history.” Meanwhile, Iranian analysts said Tehran was closely watching discussions in Beijing and among BRICS ministers as it sought backup options should negotiations with Washington falter.
The debate over how to handle Iran reopened older arguments in Washington. Former President Barack Obama weighed in on CBS, defending the 2015 nuclear deal as a model that had curbed Tehran’s nuclear programme without triggering broader conflict. His intervention served as a reminder that alternatives exist—if leaders choose to pursue them.
Amid the tough talk and diplomatic maneuvering, the human cost remains a quiet but persistent presence. The prospect of renewed strikes, blockades or tightening sanctions threatens to deepen suffering across the region, and the uncertainty keeps energy markets and global supply chains on edge. For negotiators, the central challenge is to translate hard rhetoric into a path that reduces risk rather than amplifies it. Until that happens, leaders will keep trading warnings and assurances, and ordinary people will continue to feel the consequences of decisions made in far-off rooms.