U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran had taken too long to negotiate a deal and would now “have to pay the price,” as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated following an overnight exchange of strikes that threatened to derail fragile diplomatic efforts. Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Iran is all talk and no action. They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!” The remarks came after the United States launched airstrikes against Iranian air defense, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites around the Strait of Hormuz, which the Pentagon described as a “proportional response” to Iran’s downing of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter earlier in the week.
Trump told ABC News that the U.S. response was “very strong, very powerful,” and later told reporters, “We’re going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard, resuming bombing.” He also indicated he was considering new strikes on Iranian power plants, bridges and other strategic infrastructure if Tehran remained unwilling to sign an agreement. The president has repeatedly vacillated between optimism about a potential deal and warnings of renewed military action, telling Fox News that Iran had a chance to sign a deal and survive, but that he may keep going with more strikes given the slow pace of negotiations.
The latest escalation follows months of on-again, off-again talks aimed at halting hostilities, easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran’s nuclear program. Qatari negotiators reportedly traveled to Tehran on Wednesday morning in an effort to finalize an agreement after consultations with the United States, though Iranian officials have publicly pushed back on suggestions of imminent progress. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused Washington of damaging prospects for diplomacy through continued strikes and shifting positions, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would reassess diplomatic engagement with Washington and that “foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk.”
Trump has characterized Iran’s military as “a complete and total mess” and “completely defeated,” asserting that much of its navy and air force “doesn’t even exist anymore.” He has also claimed that Iranian negotiators are “begging” for a deal but are afraid to say so publicly. Iran rejected those characterizations, insisting it has not sought a ceasefire or asked for negotiations and warning that it will continue military operations until the U.S. ends what it calls an “illegal war.”
The exchange of fire marks one of the most significant escalations since Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire in April. Iran retaliated to the U.S. strikes by launching missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, though U.S. and regional officials said nearly all were intercepted with no reports of casualties. Oil prices rose and stock markets fell after Trump’s comments, reflecting market concern that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global energy supplies, could face further disruption.
White House officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump’s post or the status of negotiations, but sources said consultations were ongoing. With both sides trading threats and conducting strikes, the path to a renewed peace deal remains uncertain, and Trump’s warning that Iran will “pay the price” underscores his administration’s stance that delays in diplomacy will be met with intensified military pressure.
