Trump sharpens Iran threat after security meeting as deal stalls

President Donald Trump warned Iran on Saturday that “time is ticking” to reach a deal, sharpening his rhetoric after a weekend meeting with his national security team as ceasefire diplomacy stalled, Axios and Reuters reported.

At his Virginia golf club, Trump gathered four senior officials: Vice-President JD Vance, envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Aides are expected to reconvene in the Situation Room on Tuesday to weigh military options, Axios reported. Another White House session is already on the calendar, and diplomacy remains stuck.

“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 told Axios.

Hours later, a message carried by Reuters went further: “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” CNBC separately quoted Trump saying Iran had better “get moving” quickly or “there won’t be anything left”.

Within a single afternoon, the White House put both a deal offer and an ultimatum on the table. Trump first said a deal was still possible, then warned Iran could soon lose the chance to make one — pressure built around a countdown without a specific deadline.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains central to the wider crisis, but Trump’s latest words were directed at Tehran. Whether sharper public threats can draw an Iranian response before officials meet again this week is the open question.

What happens next

The Saturday session put diplomatic and security principals around the same table. Rubio, the secretary of state, sat with Witkoff, Trump’s personal envoy, and Ratcliffe, the CIA director. Vance was present too. CNN reported that Trump delivered the warning after reviewing the latest Iran developments with his advisers.

Trump’s Axios quote gave Tehran room to “get there.” The Reuters statement, by contrast, was a countdown. No strike decision has been taken, but the administration is sending an unmistakable signal: delay is dangerous.

A Tuesday meeting tightens the sequence. Officials could decide to couple the threats with another round of diplomacy or begin preparing for harder action. For now, the question is whether Iran answers before the White House gathers again. If it does, Trump can say his approach produced results. If it does not, he has already framed the alternative. “The clock is ticking,” he told Axios.