Iran-US war latest: Trump says decision coming very soon on whether to ‘blow up’ country

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Donald Trump compares US losses in Iran and Iraq wars On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump declared that he would decide very soon whether to “blow up” Iran or make a peace deal, after Tehran said it had received a US response to its proposal to end the war. “We have to make that decision: we blow them up or make a deal,” Trump told reporters. "But the time is coming. It's going to end very soon, one way or another.” Asked how he planned to negotiate with Iranian officials he had called "crazy", Trump said: "Maybe you blow them up." The president had publicly rejected Iran’s peace offer just days earlier. On Wednesday, however, Iranian officials suggested the two sides largely differed over the timeline for its implementation. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi presented the US response to president Masoud Pezeshkian at a cabinet meeting, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told the state news agency IRNA. “We will make every effort to bring the agreement to fruition and will firmly stand up for the rights of the Iranian people,” Pezeshkian said. “The agreement must now be based on a win-win strategy.” Recommended ‘Strong indications’ Iran played role in suspected Fairford terror plot, PM says India warns of major ‘food crisis’ in coming months amid El Nino and global conflicts ‘Every possible measure’ being considered to cut cost of driving, says Burnham Oil prices surge after Trump denies he offered to ease Iran sanctions Key Points Trump threatens to 'blow up' Iran if deal can't be reached Iran's economy spirals further after months-long war Oil prices barely changed as investors assess US-Iran peace talks Iran doubles down threats on to UAE over hosting 'Butcher of Gaza' Houthis are forging a 'dangerous Red Sea Axis,' claims Yemeni minister Rubio orders visiting Iranian UN delegation to leave NYC Secretary of state Marco Rubio ordered Iran's foreign minister and his delegation to the UN General Assembly to leave New York earlier than they had planned, two US officials said. The Trump administration had granted visas, albeit with severe restrictions, to Iran's president and foreign minister and their delegations to attend the annual meeting of world leaders despite the hostilities between the two countries. While president Masoud Pezeshkian left New York a day after speaking at the UN last week, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had remained behind ostensibly to participate in indirect talks with the US on opening the Strait of Hormuz, ending the conflict and resuming negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar 1 October 2026 09:00 Six killed as Iranian forces raid ‘terrorists’ planning attack near Tehran Iranian forces killed six members of a “terrorist group” who were allegedly planning an operation in Manjilabad near Tehran, state media reported, according to Al Jazeera . Soldiers with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also recovered explosives from a home and “clearance operations” were underway in the village about 44km southwest of the capital. “The operation is ongoing with the aim of completely clearing the site and confronting the terrorist elements,” Tasnim news agency reported. Iran has repeatedly accused the US and Israel of fomenting unrest by arming and funding opposition groups in the country. Mehraj 1 October 2026 08:46 Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issues direct appeal to American voters Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued an explicit appeal urging U.S. voters to vote out Congressional allies of president Donald Trump. A 26-page letter published by the Guards on Tuesday calls on the American public to exercise their political power to remove incumbent leaders, reject US backing for Israel, and oppose foreign military interventions. While the message is unlikely to influence American voters who may never see the Iranian media release, analysts point out that it highlights domestic political vulnerabilities facing Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the November 3 congressional elections, in which Democrats could reclaim legislative control and obstruct Trump's agenda. More here. Vote out Trump allies: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issues direct appeal to US voters Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps urged Americans to vote out US President Donald Trump's allies in Congress Alisha Rahaman Sarkar 1 October 2026 08:00 Iran executes two men on charges of violence Iran has executed two men over their role in violence during nationwide anti-government protests in January, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. Citing the country's judiciary, IRNA said the men took part in unrest in the northeastern city of Mashhad that left four members of the security forces dead earlier this year. Their death sentences were upheld by Iran's Supreme Court before being carried out Wednesday morning. The unrest began on 28 December amid anger over Iran's collapsing currency and worsening economy and quickly spread across the country, with demonstrators increasingly calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. Iranian authorities responded with a deadly crackdown. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar 1 October 2026 07:00 Iran's economy spirals further after months-long war Iran's economy, under heavy strain before the war started, has been in a free fall since the conflict began in late February. The country's currency fell to a record low on Tuesday, with traders in Tehran exchanging more than 2.5 million rials to the US dollar in a stark reflection of how the war in the Middle East has steadily eroded the Iranian economy. The latest decline came just 27 days after the rial hit its previous record low of 2.2 million to the dollar on 2 September. The currency has repeatedly reached new lows since the war began in February. US president Donald Trump yesterday, in an Oval Office exchange with reporters, threatened to "blow them up" if the US and Iran don't forge a deal soon. "It's going to end very soon, one way or the other," Trump said. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar 1 October 2026 06:00 Trump threatens to 'blow up' Iran if deal can't be reached US president Donald Trump has warned that Washington faces a choice between tougher military action in Iran or a peace deal. “We have to make that decision: We blow them up or make a deal,” Trump told reporters yesterday. "But the time is coming. It's going to end very soon, one way or another," he added. When asked how he planned to negotiate with Iranian officials he called "crazy", Trump said: "Maybe you blow them up." Alisha Rahaman Sarkar 1 October 2026 05:35 Oil prices barely changed as investors assess US-Iran peace talks Oil prices were nearly flat in early Asia trade this morning, following the previous day's gains and steep monthly rises, as investors assessed the outcome ​of US-Iran peace talks and the outlook for Middle East crude exports. Brent crude ‌futures rose 12 cents or 0.1 per cent, to $98.15 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $90.35 a barrel, down 7 cents, or 0.1 per cent. Both benchmarks rose about $1 a barrel yesterday. ​Brent recorded a monthly gain of around 14 per cent in September, its biggest since July, ​while WTI increased by about 5 per cent on the month. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar 1 October 2026 05:00 Burnham says ‘strong indications’ Iran played part in suspected RAF Fairford bomb plot Andy Burnham said there are “strong indications that Iran played a part” in a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford. The UK is working closely with US and the authorities have the situation under “the strongest grip”, the prime minister insisted after Donald Trump criticised the decision to release the suspects. Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism near the military base over the weekend before being bailed under investigation on Monday. More here. Burnham says ‘strong indications’ Iran played part in suspected RAF Fairford plot Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were bailed under investigation on Monday Alisha Rahaman Sarkar 1 October 2026 03:56 Iran doubles down threats on to UAE over hosting 'Butcher of Gaza' Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has issued a warning to the UAE following Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Abu Dhabi. Posting on social media on Wednesday, Rezaei cautioned that welcoming the Israeli leader would carry severe repercussions, drawing a direct comparison to Western military deployments in the region. He wrote: “Just as hosting US military bases has not brought you security, hosting the ‘Butcher of Gaza’ will also not have favourable consequences. Learn from the last war, stop igniting wars, and cease issuing baseless claims regarding the Iranian islands.” The visit comes amid heightened regional scrutiny over Abu Dhabi’s dual-track foreign policy and long-standing territorial disputes over strategic Persian Gulf islands. Suha Kidwai 1 October 2026 03:00 Houthis are forging a 'dangerous Red Sea Axis,' claims Yemeni minister Yemen’s foreign minister Afrah al-Zouba has warned that Houthi rebels are expanding their alliance network across the Horn of Africa, creating what she described as a "dangerous Red Sea Axis." In an official statement released on X on Wednesday, the Yemeni foreign ministry warned that the group is forging operational ties with allied militant groups across the narrow Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The warning highlights growing international concern over the conflict, with Western and Gulf intelligence agencies tracking increased Houthi arms smuggling and maritime coordination along East African shipping routes. Suha Kidwai 1 October 2026 02:00 Newer 1 / 3 Older