President Donald Trump said on ​Monday (July 6, 2026) the United States would either ‌reach a deal with Iran or “finish the ​job,” renewing his threat ⁠of military action as Tehran projects defiance following the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali ‌Khamenei.

Indirect U.S.-Iran talks ended last week without any public sign ‌of headway toward a lasting ‌peace, ⁠despite a 60-day ceasefire intended to ⁠create space for diplomacy following the U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered the conflict.

West Asia War updates on July 7, 2026

“We’re either ​going to make ‌a deal or we’re going to finish the job. OK. And it won’t be tough to finish ‌the job. I’d rather make a ​deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people,” Mr. Trump ⁠told reporters in the Oval Office.

“We can knock down their bridges in ‌one hour, we can knock out their energy supply…. They don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money.”

Mr. Trump spoke after Khamenei’s weekend funeral where, rather than looking ‌weakened by the war that began with ​U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, Iranians appeared to ⁠be defiant, united and determined to shape what ⁠comes next.

The 60-day ceasefire was intended by Washington to revive diplomacy ‌on stopping Iran developing a nuclear arsenal. 

Iran on Saturday (June 20, 2026) said that it closed the Strait of Hormuz because of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon and warned that while negotiators were going to Switzerland for talks with the United States on their interim agreement, not much likely will happen if the fighting doesn’t stop.

U.S. President Donald Trump, in response, threatened to impose U.S. tolls in the crucial waterway if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached in 60 days, saying the money would be for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East”. His social media post underscored that the agreement calls for toll-free travel for 60 days.

The announcements indicated a rough start to technical-level U.S.-Iran talks that key mediator Pakistan said will begin Sunday (June 21, 2026), with Qatari mediators also participating.

Iran’s joint military command said the strait was closed because of the U.S.’ “clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end the war. The interim deal is meant to stop fighting on all fronts.

Shortly after that, Iran’s state broadcaster said that the negotiating team was leaving for Switzerland, a trip delayed from Friday.

State media said that the team includes parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and central bank and oil officials, among others. The deal calls for Iran’s assets to be unfrozen.

The US. .disputed Iran’s announcement on the strait.

“Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic continues to flow, and US forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case,” said Capt Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command.

The military said that 55 merchant ships transited Saturday with more than 17 million barrels of oil.