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| ▲ This photo, released by Reuters, shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during an event to sign a memorandum in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on May 5, 2026. (Yonhap) |
Trump-Iran-negotiation
Trump warns 'much higher-level' bombing will start if Iran does not agree to a deal
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, May 6 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ratcheted up pressure on Iran to reach a peace agreement with the United States, warning of bombing at a "much higher level and intensity" if Tehran refuses to strike a deal.
Trump made the remarks in a social media post amid an Axios report that the U.S. thinks it is getting close to an agreement with the Islamic Republic on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and devise a framework for more detailed nuclear talks.
"If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," he wrote on Truth Social.
The U.S. and Iran have been struggling to narrow differences over a set of sticking points, including Tehran's push to hold sway over passage through the crucial Strait of Hormuz and Washington's drive to secure Iran's commitment not to seek a nuclear weapon.
In the post, Trump also said: "Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran."
He was referring to the military campaign against Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, which began in late February.
In a press conference Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the military campaign was "concluded," noting that the U.S. had achieved the objective of the operation.
Also on Tuesday, Trump said the U.S.' "Project Freedom" mission will be paused for a "short period of time," claiming that "great" progress has been made toward a "complete and final" agreement with representatives of Iran.
The operation began on Monday to guide commercial vessels, trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, out of the Strait of Hormuz.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said earlier this week that there are currently about 22,500 mariners embarked on more than 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf due to Iran's attacks across the region.
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