Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday, Nov. 8, gave the United States two days to accept Tehran's latest proposal to end the war between the two countries or face further military action.1,2,3
The warning paired an offer for diplomacy with a threat of retaliation if Washington renews attacks. Araghchi said the United States must meet Tehran's requirements, including an end to war on all fronts. It came as President Donald Trump considered further strikes after the midterm elections, while saying continued operations depend on whether negotiations progress over Iran's nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.1,3
"Our 2-day proposal stands: meet the requirements, including end to war on all fronts, and you will see results," Araghchi wrote in a post on X on Sunday. "Or choose war, and see our alert and battle-hardened warriors rain down hell," he said. The statement held out both a diplomatic path and the prospect of a response if new American attacks proceed.2,3
"American voters have made their choice. Time for the White House to make its own," he wrote. The choice he described was accepting Tehran's latest offer to end a war lasting more than eight months or facing military escalation.1
Trump, speaking Sunday, said renewed strikes are "highly unlikely" if negotiations move forward. He made the remarks in a phone interview reported by CNN. The president linked further military action to the terms of a potential agreement on the nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz.3
"It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement," Trump said when asked about continued U.S. strikes on Iran. "I would [continue], if necessary, but we hit them really hard," he added.3
Trump also described U.S. forces in the region as prepared to continue operations. He warned that U.S. forces have three aircraft carriers stationed in the region "fully locked and loaded," ready to continue strikes if need be. He also said the United States has 38 bridges in Iran's crosshairs that U.S. forces "can knock down in literally one hour."3
Araghchi's warning followed American military moves. The Pentagon conducted limited strikes on Friday and announced the creation of Task Force Iron Gate, an effort intended to interdict materiel going into Iran via land routes and the Caspian Sea.2
Yemen's Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on Riyadh's financial district. Although Saudi officials said at least some of the strikes were intercepted, eyewitnesses reported damage to a skyscraper belonging to Saudi Aramco, the kingdom's state-owned oil giant. Iran's Foreign Ministry also quoted Araghchi in an earlier statement on Sunday that said Iran would "not go easy on American targets" in the region.2,3
State media reported that an oil tanker caught fire earlier that morning after hitting a naval mine. AAA reported the average price of regular gasoline at $4.02 per gallon, down 15 cents from the previous Sunday, and diesel at $6.19 per gallon.2,3
The reports differed slightly on the length of the conflict, with The Hill describing it as a more than eight-month war and Al Jazeera describing it as an eight-month war.1,3
