The administration of Donald Trump warned that the United States could intensify military action against Iran if negotiations aimed at ending the conflict fail.

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At a briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president prefers a diplomatic outcome but is prepared to escalate if Tehran refuses to reach an agreement.

“The president’s preference is always peace,” Leavitt said. “But if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment … President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.”

She added that Trump is ready to “unleash hell” if Iran misjudges the situation or refuses to cooperate in negotiations.

Talks and disputed proposal

According to sources cited by US media, Washington has sent a 15-point peace proposal to Iran through officials in Pakistan.

Iranian state media reported that Tehran rejected the proposal, and Iranian officials have publicly denied that direct negotiations are taking place.

Leavitt maintained that talks are continuing and described them as productive, but declined to provide details about the content of the discussions, the Iranian negotiators involved or whether in-person meetings are imminent.

Earlier this week, Trump said he had delayed major attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days following what he described as constructive contacts with Tehran.

The administration says the pause offers Iran an opportunity to abandon its nuclear ambitions and stop threatening the United States and its allies.

Officials in both Pakistan and Egypt have indicated they could host talks aimed at ending the conflict. A meeting in Islamabad has been discussed but has not been confirmed by Washington.

Trump said negotiations involve several senior figures, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Other participants include White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner.

Leavitt described Vance as a central member of the administration’s national security team who has closely supported the president during the negotiations.

Oil gesture and military pressure

Trump also claimed Iran recently offered the United States a “very big present” linked to oil shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

The president did not specify what he meant by the remark. Reports suggested it might involve an oil tanker carrying about two million barrels that successfully transited the strait, though the White House declined to confirm the details.

Leavitt said the president would address the issue at an appropriate time.

Trump indicated the gesture signaled to him that negotiations were progressing and that Iran was dealing in good faith. He also said many senior Iranian leaders had been killed in US and Israeli strikes, claiming the country’s leadership structure had already changed.

Asked whether Washington is satisfied with Iran’s current leadership, Leavitt said it was too early to make that assessment.

Military operations continue

Despite the diplomatic contacts, the United States continues to reinforce its military presence in the region.

Thousands of additional Marines are being deployed to the Middle East, while the Pentagon has requested roughly $200 billion in supplemental funding related to the operation.

Leavitt declined to comment on potential deployment of units from the 82nd Airborne Division, referring questions to the Defense Department.

She said the administration aims to keep military options available while negotiations continue.

According to the White House, the campaign — known as Operation Epic Fury — remains active and is progressing faster than initially planned.

Officials said the mission was expected to last four to six weeks and that US forces are approaching their core objectives.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 26 March 2026

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2 minutes ago, webfact said:

She added that Trump is ready to “unleash hell” if Iran misjudges the situation or refuses to cooperate in negotiations.

Hell has already been unleashed, or is there a different hell, helly’er?

"President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.”"

They don't have the resources for that anymore.

"stop threatening the United States and its allies."

There is no and was no threat to the US.

A Beta pretending to be an Alpha.

Aided by paid liars:

“She [Levit] said the administration aims to keep military options available while negotiations continue.”

The dementia riddled idiot in the WH talking to himself is not a negotiation, much more of a negation.

I figure it's about the only thing he's good at. I mean, he's already unleashed hell on the USA and other countries.

How come all these articles are Trump,Trump,Trump. This is Israel's war. Why isn't Bibi claiming theaction???

To quote James Mathis regarding security in the Strait:

James Mattis, the former secretary of defense said, “we're in a tough spot … and I can't identify a lot of good options.” Trump can’t quit, he said, without turning over control of the strait to Iran. But neither can he ensure security, he said, even if the US controlled the strait. “They've got anti-ship cruise missiles that could be fired off the back of a pickup truck that can go 100 miles,” he said. “So there's the problem."

One truth-teller has emerged in America's war with Iran | Opinion

The talks are going well so far. The difficult part starts when the Iranians actually attend.

As I posted earlier, this sums up his bullsh*t rhetoric:

18 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Why isn't Bibi claiming theaction???

Because he's smart. He forced trump's hand and now he's letting trump take all the heat.

21 hours ago, novacova said:

Hell has already been unleashed, or is there a different hell, helly’er?

it's been hell unleashed on the terroist regime.. not the country and citizens of Iran

Huge difference !

21 hours ago, stevenl said:

"President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.”"

They don't have the resources for that anymore.

I see the Iranian gov/propoganda machine has got you believing them

The last time there were negotiations, with the Iranians making major concessions regarding nuclear enrichment, they were torpedoed by Netanyahu, who was terrified of a deal and was determined to drag the Americans into his long dreamed of war. Why would the Iranians negotiate in good faith, especially when they clearly hold the initiative with their chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz? A hold that nearly all objective military analysts warn will be near on impossible to break, without huge risk to American forces, and all the political fallout that will create. Threatening the Iranians will not work, like it did not when he was rebuked by the North Koreans in his first term, and issued similar threats. It was supposed to be a short operation focusing on overwhelming air power only, as per Venezueala. Trump and his deeply troubled sidekick Hegseth know that they are in a whole world of trouble and are just buying time while they desperately search for a face-saving off ramp.

52 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

it's been hell unleashed on the terroist regime.. not the country and citizens of Iran

Huge difference !

Almost right until the part whereby 168 schoolchildren were killed.

22 hours ago, stevenl said:

There is no and was no threat to the US.

Succinctly speaking that is correct however the global threat of a Jihadi with a dirty bomb in a suitcase fuelled by enriched uranium from Iran takes precedence over the US in my humble opinion

This incredibly evil and pathetic man has already Unleashed hell on the Iranian people and for what?

19 hours ago, bannork said:

To quote James Mathis regarding security in the Strait:

James Mattis, the former secretary of defense said, “we're in a tough spot … and I can't identify a lot of good options.” Trump can’t quit, he said, without turning over control of the strait to Iran. But neither can he ensure security, he said, even if the US controlled the strait. “They've got anti-ship cruise missiles that could be fired off the back of a pickup truck that can go 100 miles,” he said. “So there's the problem."

One truth-teller has emerged in America's war with Iran | Opinion

Trump acknowledges that he's a paper tiger, and as usual uses the language of a 5 year old for it.

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/how-trump-went-from-saying-strait-of-hormuz-will-open-itself-to-acknowledging-irans-power-to-control-the-waterway-201453010.html

How Trump went from saying Strait of Hormuz 'will open itself' to acknowledging Iran's power to control the waterway

Trump also described an exchange in the ongoing peace talks where the Iranian representatives said they would allow “eight big boats of oil” to pass through the strait — and then kept their promise.

Trump has also floated the notion of simply ending hostilities and leaving others to deal with the Strait of Hormuz — but observers have warned of dire economic consequences in such a move.

4 previous Hormuz ultimatums from Trump (and plenty of other promises)

After Thursday’s appearance with his Cabinet, Trump announced that he would back away further from what he called plans for “the period of Energy Plant destruction” by an additional 10 days and let talks continue until April 6 at 8 PM ET.

8 minutes ago, wombat said:

Succinctly speaking that is correct however the global threat of a Jihadi with a dirty bomb in a suitcase fuelled by enriched uranium from Iran takes precedence over the US in my humble opinion

IMHO I will be more worried about a global threat from North Korea who has been expanding its nuclear arsenal and has developed ICBM that can reach US and Europe. Iran's nuclear threat is still a perception and denied by even US intelligence and IAEA and there are no confirmation that they have long range ICBM to reach US. To go to war over a perception is highly flawed.

Trump pausing the "period of energy plant destruction" in Iran by 10 days is NOT a TACO, but more of a NACHO:
Not

Actually

Changing

Hormuz

Opening

28 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This incredibly evil and pathetic man has already Unleashed hell on the Iranian people and for what?

For what? For decades worth of the same propaganda. We've been told for 3 decades that Iran's 2 weeks from a bomb. Think Tank publications actually tell you the real reason behind the 4 decades of enmity toward Iran: The goal has ALWAYS been to reinstalled the Shah's family line, and retake control of Iran's oil and then to project US power into the Persian Gulf. The propaganda (week's away from a nuke, ICBMs that can hit the US) is just propaganda that creates the casus belli for war.

Now Trump has this war. Unfortunately Iran is the classic Thucydides Trap.

1 hour ago, Luuk Chaai said:

it's been hell unleashed on the terroist regime.. not the country and citizens of Iran

Huge difference !

I guess this has been your first day of looking at what's actually been happening during this craziness.

2 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

I see the Iranian gov/propoganda machine has got you believing them

Sure mate, if thinking that makes you happy. Carry on.

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

Because he's smart. He forced trump's hand and now he's letting trump take all the heat.

Which is exactly why Trump should declare victory, withdraw and leave Israel holding the bag.

2 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

it's been hell unleashed on the terroist regime.. not the country and citizens of Iran

Huge difference !

Ah, thanks, that's why all the terrorists are dead and no civilians were hurt or killed.

Just now, unblocktheplanet said:

Which is exactly why Trump should declare victory, withdraw and leave Israel holding the bag.

Agree, but he somehow has to find a way to control Israel and prevent them from continuing attacking Iran.

1 hour ago, wombat said:

Succinctly speaking that is correct however the global threat of a Jihadi with a dirty bomb in a suitcase fuelled by enriched uranium from Iran takes precedence over the US in my humble opinion

The bomb was dropped in 1945, 80 years ago. That's a lot of time for some state actor or rogue faction to put together a dirty bomb. So we have to keep being afraid of the boogeyman under the bed?

5 day pause and now a 10 day pause until "hell is unleashed". The difference between threats and keeping promises is the deadliine does not shift and shift. Eventually the threat will lose it's value. Obama had his "red line" moment and it did not go well. Also, I thought all the relevant military targets had been demolished.

34 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

5 day pause and now a 10 day pause until "hell is unleashed". The difference between threats and keeping promises is the deadliine does not shift and shift. Eventually the threat will lose it's value. Obama had his "red line" moment and it did not go well. Also, I thought all the relevant military targets had been demolished.

They are negotiating a peace deal, so a pause on aggression does make sense.

3 hours ago, Summerinsiam said:

The last time there were negotiations, with the Iranians making major concessions regarding nuclear enrichment, they were torpedoed by Netanyahu, who was terrified of a deal and was determined to drag the Americans into his long dreamed of war. Why would the Iranians negotiate in good faith, especially when they clearly hold the initiative with their chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz? A hold that nearly all objective military analysts warn will be near on impossible to break, without huge risk to American forces, and all the political fallout that will create. Threatening the Iranians will not work, like it did not when he was rebuked by the North Koreans in his first term, and issued similar threats. It was supposed to be a short operation focusing on overwhelming air power only, as per Venezueala. Trump and his deeply troubled sidekick Hegseth know that they are in a whole world of trouble and are just buying time while they desperately search for a face-saving off ramp.

And for all the negative Nelly 's. What if day ten comes or the evil regime does something so stupid. The the power plants get rocked water desalination gets hit and he'll really is unleashed. What does that do for the "good" people of IRAN... think about the restraint he has ,or should he have done an Obama and send a few more pallets of cash

...wake up !

On 3/26/2026 at 11:11 AM, stevenl said:

"President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.”"

They don't have the resources for that anymore.

"stop threatening the United States and its allies."

There is no and was no threat to the US.

Correct. This is Israel's war, and Trump and his goons fell right into that trap.

Now the world pays a high price for it.

What did Trump think would happen here? Just killing Khamenei and a few leaders, and that would be it? The regime would fall? They couldn't be more wrong. The regime in Iran is not anywhere near falling or changing. And they still have the best card in this war, the Hormuz Strait.

But hey, give that man his Nobel's peace price!!

Could Trump be a less-believing 'Christian' Zionist than some of his entourage, so hesitant to push the button that will unleash the nuclear 'rapture' ?

On the other hand Netanyahoo and fellow cultists are clearly looking forward to, and promoting, global Armageddon with a view to the coming of their Messiah and the building of the Second - or isn't it the 3rd? - Temple. By themselves, the survivors.