Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated on Sunday as Tehran warned that any renewed conflict could last longer than the previous war, while President Donald Trump suggested Washington still had targets to strike.
Iran’s army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said a potential future war “could last longer than previous conflict” and that Trump “would not be in a position to dictate the timing or the conditions of its conclusion,” according to state television. Trump told reporters the U.S. could strike remaining sites in Iran “in 10 minutes,” specifically naming the suspected underground nuclear complex at Pickaxe Mountain.
The warnings came as Qatari-mediated talks entered a third day in Doha, with Iranian negotiators seeking a deal to end the eight-month war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran hoped the U.S. would “choose diplomacy over other paths” but stressed that Tehran remains prepared for both defense and further negotiations. Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei confirmed receiving a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance seeking to revive talks, noting a “positive change in tone” but withholding a response.
The diplomatic push follows a tense phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday. Axios reported that Netanyahu pressed Trump to resume strikes immediately after Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, while Trump preferred to let negotiations play out. A U.S. source described the call as “direct,” and an Israeli source called it “tough.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported that two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz while using an unauthorized route. The incident underscored the ongoing risks to shipping in the critical waterway, which Iran has effectively controlled since the war began on February 28.
Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, expressed hope for a diplomatic breakthrough but warned that military solutions would complicate the crisis. UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said at a security forum in Bahrain that the region must avoid another round of confrontation, though he acknowledged preparations for the worst. Bahrain’s foreign minister condemned Iran’s pattern of attacks on regional infrastructure, including recent threats to underwater data cables.
