President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran has "taken too long to negotiate a deal" over the Mideast conflict and will now "have to pay the price," while Iran warned that any resumption of U.S. and Israeli air strikes would meet a "heavier" and "stronger" retaliation.
"Iran is all talk and no action," Trump said on Truth Social. "They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price."
In a phone interview with Fox News, Trump also suggested he may order new strikes on Iran's power plants and bridges.
"I may keep going," Trump said during the interview. "They had a chance to sign a deal and survive."
The president claimed Tehran has been "tapping the U.S. along" in peace talks that have ultimately made little progress.
During an interview later the same day, Trump said U.S. forces will continue striking Iran, one day after the United States launched strikes in southern Iran following the downing of a U.S. Army helicopter.
"We're going to hit them hard again today," he told reporters at the White House. "We're going to be attacking them and attacking them very hard."
The U.S. military reportedly hit about 20 targets in its strikes on Iran on Tuesday in response to the downing of the helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. The targets included Iranian air defenses, radar sites and ground control stations, U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Tuesday.
In response to U.S. attacks and Trump's threats, Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi said on Wednesday that Iran will respond to every threat from the United States "more severe, heavier, and stronger" than ever before.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Iran and the U.S. should move beyond "this state of neither war nor peace."
Speaking at an event commemorating late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he noted that Iran must break free from a situation that is neither war nor peace, and said war is not in Iran's national interest.
But if "they seek to violate our land and our territory," Iran will never surrender and never retreat, he added.
Trump warns of new strikes on Iran over delayed talks, Iran vows stronger retaliation
Trump warns of new strikes on Iran over delayed talks, Iran vows stronger retaliation
