Alert for US-Iran War Sequel: Trump-Tehran Signal Imminent Outbreak
The United States and Iran have warned of signals that a new war could break out between them. In statements on Monday, each country declared readiness to resume fighting amid a ceasefire set to expire tomorrow, 22 April.
It should be noted that negotiations have been underway for the past two weeks but are now deadlocked. The White House stated that US Vice President JD Vance is prepared to fly back to Islamabad, Pakistan, for the second round of talks, but Iran has refused to confirm its participation and accused the US of violating the ceasefire through a port blockade and the seizure of an Iranian vessel.
“By imposing a blockade and breaching the ceasefire, Trump wants to turn this negotiating table into one of surrender or to justify renewed hostilities, in line with his desires,” said influential Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the delegation in the talks two weeks ago in Pakistan, quoted by AFP on Tuesday (21/4/2026).
“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks we have prepared to show new cards on the battlefield,” he wrote on X.
The same sentiment was echoed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Tehran’s military has warned it will target any ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without permission.
Meanwhile, Trump also accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire. According to him, Iran is interfering with ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a transit route for one-fifth of the world’s oil, which Iran has almost completely closed as retaliation for the war launched by the US and Israel.
In a series of angry posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump insisted that the blockade is “completely destroying” Iran. He said the blockade will not end “until there is a ‘DEAL’, where America presses for Iranian concessions on its controversial nuclear programme.
Trump also told PBS News that Iran “should be present” at the talks in Pakistan. He warned that if the ceasefire ends “then many bombs will start exploding” in Iran.
Not stopping there, in a separate interview with Bloomberg News, Trump issued another warning to Iran. According to him, it is “very unlikely” he will extend the two-week ceasefire.
Based on its start time, the ceasefire theoretically ends on Tuesday night Tehran time. Nevertheless, in his comments to Bloomberg, Trump said the ceasefire’s end is a day later, on Wednesday night Washington time.
Oil prices surged sharply on Monday, with Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate both rising nearly 6%, to US$94 and US$86 per barrel respectively. Concerns that hostilities could continue in the war that has raged for weeks, after Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz following a brief reopening over the weekend, have resurfaced.
Meanwhile in Iran, citizens are beginning to complain about the war’s impact. This is especially true amid a struggling economy.
“The only thing shown by 50 days of war is that no one cares about the Iranian people,” said a 30-year-old Tehran resident doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Trump himself is now experiencing a drastic drop in popularity in the US, where his war moves face widespread opposition and put him under pressure. Referencing NBC News Decision Desk, overall, only 37% of US adults approve of Trump’s performance as president while 63% disapprove, including 50% who say they strongly disapprove.