Iranian negotiators ‘better get serious soon, before it is too late’

U.S. President Donald Trump has told Iran to “get serious soon” about a peace deal with Washington, or face the consequences.

“They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!,” he posted on Truth Social early Thursday.

The president described Iranian negotiators as “very different” and “strange” and said they were “begging” the U.S. to make a deal to end the war that has raged for almost four weeks.

Trump’s comments come after contradictory statements from Washington and Tehran regarding the status of peace talks. The U.S. has said talks over a proposed peace plan have been taking place, while Iran denies any direct interaction with Washington.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly told state media on Wednesday that officials were reviewing an American proposal to end the war, but said Tehran had no intention of having talks with the U.S.

He added that an exchange of messages between the two countries through mediators “does not mean negotiations with the U.S.,” Reuters reported.

In his Truth Social post, Trump hit back at Iranian comments on the matter, saying the country had been “militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback.”

“Yet they publicly state that they are only ‘looking at our proposal.’ WRONG!!!,” the president said.

The U.S. is reportedly preparing to send thousands more soldiers to the region who could be rapidly deployed for possible additional military action. The U.S. could attempt to seize the Kharg Island oil port or reopen the strait, if negotiations falter, analysts told CNBC. CNBC has contacted the White House and is awaiting a response.

⁠Iran’s ⁠parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posted on X Wednesday that intelligence suggested “Iran’s enemies” ⁠were planning to occupy “one of the Iranian islands” with support ‌from an unnamed country in the region.

Military experts outlined three possible attack scenarios to CNBC, adding that the U.S. buildup of troops pointed to a potential time-limited operation rather than a sustained ground campaign.

There are signs that Iran’s Gulf neighbors are also losing patience with Iran following attacks on their own energy infrastructure.

Earlier Thursday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and several other Gulf nations issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s “criminal” attacks, and signaling a readiness to act in “self defense” in the future.