President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning amid ongoing strains in the ceasefire with Iran, stating that U.S. military forces “will remain in, and around, Iran until such time as the real agreement reached is fully complied with.” He added that failure to comply would result in military action that “starts bigger, better and stronger than anyone has ever seen before.”
The remarks, posted overnight by the president, come as the Trump administration works to stabilize the recently announced ceasefire, which followed weeks of conflict during Operation Epic Fury. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the challenges, noting, “No cease-fire ever goes without a little bit of choppiness.”
Trump further emphasized in his post that the agreement, reached some time ago, requires no nuclear weapons for Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and safe for navigation. However, the status of the strategically vital waterway remains unclear, with conflicting reports on whether it has been fully reopened without restrictions.
Uncertainty also persists over Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, which experts indicate could support the development of a small number of nuclear bombs. A U.S. official familiar with the situation stated, “On the uranium, we’re watching it. We know what they have. They’ll give it up, we’ll get it and we’ll take it.”
Iran has publicly disputed that surrendering its enriched uranium was part of the ceasefire terms. The agreement was reached hours after Trump faced international criticism for warning that an entire civilization could face destruction if no deal was secured. When asked about the appropriateness of such language regarding civilian targets, a spokesperson responded, “I understand the questions about the President’s red line, but what the President cares about most are results.”
The ceasefire follows intense U.S. military operations under Operation Epic Fury. According to a U.S. official familiar with the operations, 381 U.S. service members have been wounded since the beginning of the campaign, with about 90% having returned to duty. The Pentagon has reported that 13 service members were killed in the operation.
Vice President JD Vance is preparing to lead a U.S. delegation to Pakistan this weekend for critical in-person peace talks aimed at solidifying the ceasefire and addressing remaining disputes. The discussions are expected to focus on clarifying terms related to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear activities, and broader regional stability.
Tensions highlight differing public and private communications from Tehran, with U.S. officials stressing the need for full adherence to the agreed terms to prevent escalation. The coming talks in Pakistan are seen as a key test for whether the fragile truce can evolve into a more durable agreement.
