President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Sunday, posting on his Truth Social platform that Tehran must move quickly toward a peace agreement or face devastation. "For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them," Trump wrote. "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!" The message followed a phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the ongoing conflict.

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have reached a critical impasse, with Iranian media reporting that the United States offered no meaningful concessions in its latest response to Iran's proposed terms. According to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, Washington presented a five-point list that included demands for Iran to operate only a single nuclear site and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States. Iran's demands, relayed through Pakistani mediators, reportedly included an immediate ceasefire across all fronts, an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, guarantees against further strikes, compensation for war damage, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump's national security team is expected to meet Tuesday to discuss potential military options against Iran, according to a report by Axios. The warning came days after Trump declared the existing ceasefire — in effect since early April — was on "massive life support" and dismissed Iranian counteroffers as "totally unacceptable." Earlier in the week, Trump also signaled a possible shift in position, suggesting he could accept a 20-year suspension of Iran's nuclear program rather than demanding its complete dismantlement.

The broader regional situation remained volatile over the weekend. A drone strike struck the perimeter of the United Arab Emirates' sole nuclear power plant, sparking a fire with no reported injuries or radiological release. The UAE called the attack a "dangerous escalation" and said it was investigating whether Iran or its proxies were responsible. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes killed seven people, including an Islamic Jihad commander and his teenage daughter, even as a 45-day ceasefire extension remained nominally in place and Hezbollah declared U.S.-brokered talks a "dead end."

The conflict is also carrying significant domestic costs for the United States. Pentagon comptroller Jay Hurst told lawmakers last week that the estimated cost of the war has risen to $29 billion, up from an earlier figure of $25 billion. U.S. gas prices have surged more than 50 percent to a national average of $4.51 per gallon, partly due to Iran's continued control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flows. With midterm elections approaching, the Trump administration faces mounting political pressure to bring the conflict to a resolution.