Key facts
- President Donald Trump threatened to resume U.S. attacks on Iran if it does not restrain Hezbollah allies.
- Iran's chief negotiator warned the U.S. to be careful and stated Iran's armed forces are ready to respond.
- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa denied seeking military intervention in Lebanon.
- The U.S. and Iran are engaged in peace talks in Switzerland.
- Gold prices fell amid escalating threats between the U.S. and Iran.
- President Trump criticized Italy and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for not supporting the U.S. military campaign against Iran.
- President Trump called reporting by The New York Times about the Iran war 'TREASONOUS' and threatened to add it to his lawsuit against the company.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly threatened to resume strikes on Iran if it did not prevent its allies, Hezbollah, from causing trouble in Lebanon. This threat came as peace talks between the U.S. and Iran were underway in Switzerland, aimed at finalizing a deal to end a conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and impacted the global economy.
Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, "If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, only harder." Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, responded to Trump's threat by warning the U.S. to "be careful with their statements," asserting that Iran's armed forces are prepared to retaliate. He dismissed the effectiveness of American threats, stating, "We do not take American threats into account."
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa denied seeking military intervention in Lebanon, stating that Syria is looking for economic channels. Trump also criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for not supporting the U.S./Israel military campaign against Iran. Gold prices fell amid the escalating threats.
Separately, President Trump slammed The New York Times for reporting that not much had changed after four months of war between the U.S. and Iran, calling the article "TREASONOUS" and stating it would be added to his lawsuit against the company. The Times article noted Iran's ability to consistently retaliate and inflict damage as a sign of a stalemate, prompting Trump's public rebuttal.