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3. U.S. Signals Readiness for New Military Action Against Iran While Leaving Door Open for Diplomacy

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States was “one hour away” from launching strikes on Iran on Monday before deciding to delay military action to allow more time for negotiations.

Speaking during a White House press briefing alongside Vice President JD Vance, Trump revealed that several Gulf countries had contacted Washington, requesting additional time for diplomacy before any attack was carried out.

“We were one hour away from striking Iran yesterday,” Trump said. “Some of the Gulf countries called me asking to give some more time for the negotiations before striking.”

The president warned that Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon would pose a direct threat not only to Israel but also to Gulf Arab states. “If Iran had a nuclear weapon, they’d start with Israel and go after the Arab Gulf states,” he said.

Trump added that while another military strike remains possible, no final decision has yet been made. “We may have to launch another strike on Iran, but I’m not sure about that,” he stated, while giving Tehran what he described as a short window to reach an agreement with Washington.

“I’m giving Iran two to three days, maybe until early next week, to agree to a deal,” Trump said.

Vice President Vance reinforced the administration’s position, stressing that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a central objective of U.S. policy.

“There are two options… Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said, warning that an Iranian nuclear capability could trigger a broader arms race across the Gulf and other regions.

“If they get one, it sets off a nuclear arms race across the Gulf and the entire world,” he added. “Every dangerous regime sympathetic to terrorists would rush to get the bomb.”

Despite the strong warnings, Vance said the administration still favors diplomacy over renewed conflict and indicated that talks with Tehran continue.

“We’ve made a lot of progress on Iran,” he said. “We can restart a military campaign, but that’s not what President Trump or Iran wants.”

Vance also suggested that Washington sees a potential opportunity to reshape decades of strained relations between the two countries.

“We have an opportunity here to reset the relationship that has existed between Iran and the United States for 47 years,” he said, while emphasizing that any future agreement would have to guarantee that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.

At the same time, Vance stressed that the United States remains prepared for military action if negotiations fail. “As the President just told me, we’re locked and loaded,” he said. “We don’t want to go down that pathway, but the president is willing and able to go down that pathway if we have to.”

The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and growing international concern over the possibility of direct military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.