'Giving It A Shot': Trump Says Iran Talks Near ‘Final Stages’, Warns Of Fresh Strikes If No Deal Reached

Last Updated:May 20, 2026, 21:25 IST

Donald Trump says Iran talks are in final stages, warns military action remains possible as fragile ceasefire holds, Iran vows retaliation beyond Middle East if attacked again

US President Donald Trump said that negotiations with Iran were entering their “final stages," while warning Tehran that military action remained on the table if a deal is not reached.

“We’re in the final stages of Iran. We’ll see what happens," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding, “Either have a deal or we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won’t happen."

The remarks come six weeks after Trump paused Operation Epic Fury under a ceasefire arrangement, temporarily halting a widening regional conflict that had fueled fears of a broader war in the Middle East. Despite ongoing diplomatic contacts, negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and curbing Iran’s nuclear and military activities have shown little visible progress.

Trump acknowledged this week that he had come close to authorizing additional military strikes, but decided against immediate action to give diplomacy more time.

“We’re going to give this one shot. I’m in no hurry," he said, explaining, “Ideally I’d like to see few people killed, as opposed to a lot. We can do it either way."

Tehran responded sharply to Trump’s comments, accusing Washington of preparing the ground for renewed hostilities. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any new attacks would trigger retaliation extending beyond the Middle East.

“If aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will extend beyond the region this time," the Revolutionary Guards said.

Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran must agree to strict terms limiting its military and nuclear capabilities, while Iranian leaders have demanded guarantees against future US strikes and sanctions pressure. The standoff has kept regional governments and global markets on edge amid concerns that any collapse in negotiations could quickly reignite military conflict across the Gulf and wider West Asia.

News world 'Giving It A Shot': Trump Says Iran Talks Near ‘Final Stages’, Warns Of Fresh Strikes If No Deal Reached

Read More