▲ U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he tours Ballroom construction around the outside of the White House in Washington on May 19, 2026, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)
▲ U.S. Vice President JD Vance holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington on May 19, 2026, in this photo released by UPI. (Yonhap)

Trump-Iran war

Trump says U.S. could resume strikes on Iran within days if no deal is reached

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump indicated Tuesday that a U.S. attack on Iran could resume in the coming days if a peace deal is not reached, after he announced a decision the previous day to hold off on a planned assault against the Islamic Republic.

During a press availability, Trump said that he has given Iran a "limited period of time," after he said Monday he had instructed the U.S. military not to go ahead with an attack on Iran, planned for Tuesday, following requests from the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

"They said, 'Sir, could you give us a couple of more days because we think they are being reasonable?'" Trump said of the leaders of the Middle East nations at the White House.

"I mean, I'm saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe ‌early next week, a limited period of time, because we can't let them ‌have a new ‌nuclear weapon," he added.

Trump claimed that Iran is "begging" to make a deal with the U.S. to end the war, as he repeated his warning of the potential resumption of attacks on Tehran.

"I hope we don't have to do the work, but we may have to give them another big hit ... I am not sure yet. You will know very soon," he said.

The president also said that he was "an hour away" from ordering an attack on Iran before suspending it this week.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance renewed calls on Tehran to renounce its nuclear ambitions, pointing out that there are two options --- Iran committing not to have a nuclear weapon and the U.S. restarting a military campaign against it.

"We are not going to have a deal that allows the Iranians to have a nuclear weapon," Vance said during a press briefing at the White House.

"As the president just told me, we're locked and loaded. We don't want to go down that pathway, but the president is willing and able to go down that pathway if we have to."

Earlier, Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran has delivered to Pakistani mediators a revised 14-point proposal that focuses on negotiations to end hostilities and "trust-building" measures.

Later, Trump told the New York Post that he is not open to any concessions for Iran in an apparent show of dissatisfaction over Iran's newest proposal.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]