President Donald Trump warned Iran on May 17 that time was running out for a deal to end the war. “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking… TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” he wrote on Truth Social.
The ceasefire reached in April was described as being on “life support,” with Pakistan still mediating between the two sides.
The warning came the same day as a drone strike on a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates. Axios reported that Trump was weighing harder strikes if talks failed.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on October 17, 2026 to correct factual errors, including officials’ titles and event details, and to add source links.
