Trump warns Iran "clock is ticking" until U.S. launches harder strikes
By: Barak Ravid (AXIOS)
No doubt Cuba will be a topic of discussion for President Trump's top national security team, too. Iran is not the only military worry for the Trump administration. Trump has now painted himself into the corner of having to start a war with Cuba while engaged in a war with Iran. And there's no way to politically connect those two wars.
Hell of a mess, ain't it?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
May 17, 2026 -- President Trump told Axios in a phone call that "the clock is ticking" for Iran and warned that if the Iranian regime doesn't come with a better offer for a deal, "they are going to get hit much harder."
Why it matters: U.S. officials say Trump wants a deal to end the war, but Iran's rejection of many of his demands and refusal to make meaningful concessions on its nuclear program has put the military option back on the table.
- Trump is expected to convene his top national security team in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss military options, two U.S. officials said.
- Trump spoke Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in Iran.
Behind the scenes: Trump met Saturday with members of his national security team at his Virginia golf club to discuss Iran, a source with knowledge said.
- Attendees included Vice President JD Vance , White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
The latest: Oil prices rose in early trading amid the peace talks impasse.
- The global benchmark Brent crude was rose over 2% to $111 a barrel just before 9:30pm Sunday ET.
State of play: Pakistan's interior minister visited Tehran on Saturday and Sunday for talks with senior Iranian leaders about the deal for ending the war. Pakistan is the official mediator between the U.S. and Iran.
- Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani , who is also mediating, spoke Sunday with his Pakistani counterpart and with the Iranian foreign minister.
- Trump told Axios he still thinks Iran wants a deal and said he is waiting for an updated Iranian proposal, one he said he hopes will be better than the last offer given several days ago.
- Trump declined to give a specific deadline for the negotiations with Iran.
What he's saying: "We want to make a deal. They are not where we want them to be. They will have to get there, or they will be hit badly, and they don't want that," Trump said.
- He said the U.S will hit Iran "much harder than before" if they don't come up with a better proposal.
- The clock is ticking. They better get moving fast or they are not gonna have anything left," Trump stressed.
Situation report: A drone struck the United Arab Emirates' Barakah nuclear power plant Sunday, damaging an "electrical generator outside the inner perimeter," the UAE defense ministry said.
- It was one of three drones that entered the country's air space "from the western border direction," the ministry said. The other two were intercepted. "Investigations are underway to determine the source of the attacks," the ministry said.
- Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed told International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi there has been "no impact on radiological safety levels," the UAE foreign ministry said.
- While the UAE hasn't accused Iran directly, diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash hinted at Tehran.
- "The targeting of the Barakah nuclear energy plant, whether carried out directly by the principal actor or through one of its proxies, represents a dangerous escalation and a dark development that violates all international laws and norms, with criminal disregard for the lives of civilians in the UAE and its surroundings," he wrote on X .
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President Trump has delivered setbacks with Iran, the Persian Gulf alliance, Europe, Russia, China, and our neighbors in the Americas.
Is this really 'winning'?
Trump is desperate to rehabilitate his shattered image as a result of this ill fated war. He is doing the only thing he knows how to do in circumstances like this - he is threatening people.
His failure to conduct the Iran situation properly is signed sealed and delivered and there is nothing he can do. Even if the war ends today he has lost tremendous prestige and trust in our country from other nations.
He can't run again.