Senior Iranian Officer Warns Renewed War With US Is ‘Likely’ as Trump Rejects Tehran’s Peace Offer

Tensions between the United States and Iran are escalating dangerously as a senior Iranian military officer publicly stated that renewed fighting with the US is “likely.” This stark warning comes just hours after President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest negotiating proposal and issued fresh threats to “blast the hell out of them,” according to comments reported by France 24.

Iran delivered a new draft peace proposal to mediator Pakistan last Thursday, but details remain undisclosed. Trump, speaking to reporters, said he was “not satisfied” with the offer, blaming internal discord within Iran’s leadership for the stalled talks. He framed the choice as between immediate military escalation or attempting a diplomatic deal—though his rhetoric strongly suggests a preference for aggression.

Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a senior figure in Iran’s military central command, told Iran’s Fars news agency that “evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements.” Iran’s deputy foreign minister reinforced this stance, saying the “ball is in the United States’ court” to choose diplomacy or confrontation, while Iran remains prepared for both.

The White House has refused to disclose details of the Iranian proposal. However, Axios reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff had submitted amendments aimed at bringing Iran’s nuclear program back into negotiations. Iran’s UN mission condemned the US for “hypocritical behavior,” highlighting America’s vast nuclear arsenal and insisting Iran’s uranium enrichment is legal under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision.

Despite a ceasefire in the Gulf since April 8, the conflict’s economic and geopolitical toll deepens. Iran maintains a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, while the US enforces a counter-blockade. Oil prices remain about 50 percent above pre-war levels, straining the world economy.

Trump’s administration has also sparked controversy with aggressive actions like a helicopter raid on an oil tanker, which Trump himself described as “like pirates.” Iranian lawmakers vow to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, with plans to use toll revenues to bolster military infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the war’s impact on Iran’s economy is severe. Inflation has surged past 50 percent, and ordinary citizens report growing hardship. The conflict also fuels violence beyond the Gulf, with ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah despite a separate ceasefire.

In Washington, debates rage over Trump’s war powers and whether congressional approval is required after the 60-day limit for hostilities. The administration claims the ceasefire pauses this clock, but Democrats dispute this interpretation.

This latest escalation exposes the Trump administration’s dangerous pattern of using foreign conflict as a tool to consolidate power and distract from domestic failings. With diplomacy faltering and threats of renewed war looming, the stakes for global stability and democratic accountability have never been higher.