Trump Warns Iran Time Is Running Out as National Security Team Weighs Military Options
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Sunday, posting on Truth Social that Tehran had better act quickly or face total destruction — just hours after convening a high-level national security meeting to assess next steps in the ongoing conflict with the Islamic Republic.
“For Iran, the time is running out and they had better move FAST, or there will be nothing left of them. TIME IS ESSENTIAL!” Trump wrote in the post, signed with his initials.
Top Officials Gather at Virginia Golf Club
The warning followed a Saturday meeting at Trump’s Virginia golf club, where the president gathered some of his most senior advisers to discuss the path forward. Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and special envoy Steve Witkoff were among those in attendance, according to a source familiar with the gathering.
The session came shortly after Trump returned to Washington from a significant diplomatic visit to China — a country that maintains close economic and political ties with Iran. During the Beijing trip, Trump and his team deferred a final decision on how to proceed with Tehran, with administration officials indicating they wanted to observe how discussions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping unfolded before determining a course of action.
A follow-up national security meeting is expected early this week to continue deliberations, according to the same source.
Military Options on the Table
Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Iran’s handling of diplomatic negotiations and remains particularly focused on the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint whose blockade has driven up global oil prices and strained international energy markets — a concern with direct implications for American consumers and the broader U.S. economy.
In recent days, the president has given more serious consideration to resuming large-scale combat operations against Iran as a means of forcing the regime to reach a settlement, despite his stated preference for resolving the conflict through diplomacy. The Pentagon has developed a range of targeting plans should Trump authorize further military action, including precision strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure and other strategic sites.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the national security discussions.
Trump also spoke by phone Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a Netanyahu spokesman and a U.S. official. Israel has been a key partner in monitoring Iranian military activity throughout the conflict.
Iran Shows No Signs of Yielding
On the Iranian side, senior officials have given no indication they are prepared to make concessions. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi traveled to Tehran on Sunday to meet with top Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pakistan has served as a primary mediator in U.S.-Iran peace discussions.
During those meetings, Iranian officials maintained that American military presence in the Middle East was itself a source of regional instability. Pezeshkian, according to a report from the Iranian-linked Tasnim news agency, accused the United States and Israel of attempting to divide Islamic nations through what he called “divisive projects,” while asserting that Iran seeks “sincere and stable” relations with neighboring countries.
The hardened rhetoric from both sides underscores the fragility of the current diplomatic track. With Pakistan attempting to bridge the gap and China’s role as a potential back-channel under scrutiny, the window for a negotiated resolution appears to be narrowing rapidly in the administration’s view.
What Comes Next
President Trump is expected to reconvene his national security team in the coming days for further discussions on Iran strategy. Key variables include whether China will apply additional pressure on Tehran following Trump’s Beijing visit, how Iran responds to the president’s public ultimatum, and whether Pentagon strike plans move closer to formal authorization. For Idaho families and businesses already feeling the effects of elevated energy prices tied to the Hormuz closure, the outcome of those deliberations carries significant economic weight. Follow Idaho News for statewide updates and Idaho News Network for broader regional coverage as the situation develops.