Iran Warns US of Impossible War as Trump Eyes Nuclear Deal

Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States, declaring that Washington faces a binary choice between an unwinnable military campaign and an unfavourable negotiated settlement, as tensions over Tehran's nuclear programme reach a critical inflection point. Senior Iranian officials framed any potential military action as operationally impossible, signalling confidence in the country's defensive posture despite sustained economic pressure and international isolation.

The warning comes as US President Donald Trump is reported to be actively weighing a diplomatic proposal to resolve the standoff, with aides indicating that outlines of a potential framework are under internal review. The dual tracks of military posturing and diplomatic outreach reflect the high-stakes nature of a crisis that has already roiled global energy markets and strained alliance structures across the Middle East.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply transits, remains a focal point of the standoff. Any Iranian decision to restrict passage would trigger an immediate energy supply shock affecting Asian and European markets alike, a risk that has already dampened investor sentiment in Gulf equity markets despite a broadly positive trading session on Sunday.

Germany's Foreign Minister separately pressed Iran's counterpart in a direct call, demanding the reopening of the Strait and warning of consequences should commercial shipping continue to face obstruction. The intervention signals growing European alarm at the economic fallout from prolonged strategic ambiguity in the Gulf corridor.

Analysts caution that the window for a negotiated outcome is narrowing. With hardliners on both sides invested in confrontation and Trump's domestic political calendar creating its own pressure, the next several weeks are likely to determine whether the standoff de-escalates through diplomacy or intensifies toward a more dangerous phase.