Between Trump’s Mixed Signals and Qalibaf’s Threats: Is War About to Return?

Only hours after suggesting that the war with Iran could soon come to an end, US President Donald Trump returned on Wednesday evening to his usual confrontational tone, insisting that he is “in no rush” when it comes to deciding the next steps towards Tehran.

His comments came as Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that Tehran had detected both “clear and hidden” signs indicating that the United States may be preparing for another round of fighting.

The developments come as Pakistan’s Interior Minister visits Tehran for the second time in less than a week in an attempt to revive negotiations, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued strong warnings over the consequences of renewed war and Israel announced that its military remains at “maximum readiness”.

Trump Caught Between Domestic Pressure and Netanyahu

In his latest remarks, Trump stressed that he was not rushing any decision regarding Iran, adding that the upcoming congressional midterm elections in November were not forcing him to move quickly.

However, only hours earlier, the American president delivered a contradictory message, saying the war “would end soon” and claiming that Iranian officials were “very eager” to reach an agreement because they were “tired of the conflict”.

Trump also expressed hope for a rapid settlement that would end the war “in a nice way”.

Earlier, he had stated that Iran would be given “two or three days”, while repeating that Washington would never allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Growing Domestic Pressure

Trump is facing increasing domestic pressure due to rising fuel prices across the United States and declining approval ratings after launching a war that lacks broad public support.

Reuters quoted Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities, saying that “investors are eager to determine whether Washington and Tehran can genuinely find common ground and reach a peace agreement, especially as the US position changes daily”.

Netanyahu Pushes Towards Escalation

According to several analysts, Trump is also under pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is reportedly pushing aggressively for military operations against Iran to resume despite growing criticism inside the United States.

Trump recently stated that he and Netanyahu remain fully aligned on Iran, adding: “Netanyahu will do what I want him to do.”

The two leaders reportedly held what Israeli Channel 12 described as a “decisive” phone call the previous night.

Channel 12 political analyst Amit Segal reported that Netanyahu remains determined to launch an attack on Iran, although Trump appears hesitant.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 quoted an Israeli official saying that Netanyahu and Trump discussed the possibility of an agreement, while confirming that a military strike remains under consideration by the American president, with timing being the key factor.

Iran Warns the War Could Return

In remarks widely interpreted as signalling that conflict could resume soon, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that both overt and covert enemy movements indicate preparations for another round of war.

In an audio message published on his Telegram account, Qalibaf stated that American involvement in “a war it cannot win” was repeating itself once again.

He argued that “the enemy has not abandoned its military objectives”, while simultaneously intensifying economic and political pressure on Iran.

Qalibaf described the confrontation as a “war of wills”, insisting that whoever prevails would determine Iran’s future and shape its history.

He stressed the importance of “pushing the enemy towards despair” until it is forced to accept Iranian demands during negotiations.

At the same time, he revealed that the Iranian military had used the ceasefire period to rebuild and strengthen its capabilities.

According to Qalibaf, the United States is trapped in a strategic crisis involving inflation and rising prices, while even many of Trump’s own supporters increasingly view the war against Iran as “Israel’s war”, one that contradicts Trump’s election promises.

“The American poor will ultimately pay the price for wars ignited by those close to the White House and the war profiteering lobby,” he said.

Revolutionary Guard Threatens Wider Conflict

Qalibaf’s remarks were accompanied by further warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which threatened to dramatically expand the geographical scope of any future conflict.

In what appeared to be a deterrence message aimed at both Washington and Tel Aviv, the Revolutionary Guard warned that any renewed war would extend far beyond the Middle East.

“Our crushing strikes will reach places you cannot imagine,” the Guard declared.

According to the Iranian news agency Fars News Agency, the Revolutionary Guard also stated that it had “not yet used all the capabilities of the Islamic Revolution”.

Israel Returns to Maximum Readiness

As tensions continue rising, Israel has once again highlighted its military preparedness.

Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated that the Israeli military is currently operating at “the highest levels of readiness” amid escalating threats linked to Iran.

According to a statement issued by the Israeli military, Zamir told senior commanders during a high level meeting that “at this moment, the Israeli army is at its highest level of readiness and prepared for any development”.

He added that Israeli forces remain deployed in forward defensive positions across all fronts.

Pakistan Warns of Regional Disaster

While signs of military escalation continue to grow, diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the return of war are also intensifying.

In the latest mediation attempt, Pakistan’s Interior Minister travelled to Tehran for the second time in less than a week, in a move analysts believe reflects new developments in negotiations.

Iran reportedly presented a new proposal to the United States this week, although its publicly stated conditions largely repeat demands previously rejected by Trump.

These demands reportedly include Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damages, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen assets and funds, and the withdrawal of American forces from the region.

American network CBS News quoted a senior Pakistani diplomat saying that Islamabad had intensified efforts to secure a political resolution to the conflict.

The diplomat acknowledged widespread frustration over stalled negotiations but warned that “reigniting the war would be catastrophic for everyone”.

Deep Divisions Remain Between Washington and Tehran

Despite renewed diplomatic activity, analysts believe the gap between Washington and Tehran remains extremely wide.

Mohammad Sadeghian argued that Pakistan’s mediation efforts suffer from a “structural problem”, limiting them largely to passing messages rather than facilitating genuine negotiations.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Sadeghian dismissed the likelihood of major breakthroughs through indirect exchanges while serious negotiations remain absent.

For Iran, the clearest summary of its position came from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who stated that “the diplomatic apparatus will pursue dialogue and negotiations with the same strength that the armed forces defend the country”.

On the American side, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joey Hood argued that Trump’s public statements should not necessarily be viewed as contradictions.

Based on his diplomatic experience, Hood said negotiations between Washington and Tehran are taking place through multiple channels, including intermediaries and confidential messages, while public statements are often designed for manoeuvring and pressure rather than reflecting the true negotiating position.