Iran's foreign minister gives US two days to end military action

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the United States, in the form of an ultimatum, to stop military action on all fronts within two days, warning that Tehran will otherwise wage a harsh war. He posted the statement on X as the US midterm congressional elections wrapped up, amid an ongoing conflict between the two countries.

"Our two-day offer remains in force: meet the demands, including ending the war on all fronts, and you will see the result. Or choose war and watch as our vigilant and battle-hardened warriors rain down hell," Araghchi wrote. He added that American voters had already made their choice and it was now time for the White House to make theirs.

Background

According to Reuters, Iran considers unacceptable the proposals that Qatari mediators presented to Tehran as a new draft agreement to end the war. Before the midterms, Axios reported that US President Donald Trump was weighing three options: a peace deal, a resumption of hostilities, or economic pressure.

Israel recently shared intelligence with the US and Persian Gulf states indicating that Iran is preparing to use chemical weapons against adversaries in the region. On 8 November, Trump said the US military had identified 38 bridges in Iran that could be destroyed within an hour if fighting resumed. He stressed, however, that he would prefer to avoid new strikes on Iranian infrastructure.

At the end of October, Washington reportedly warned several Arab Gulf states to prepare for a short, intense military campaign against Iran after the midterms. US forces struck Iran for the first time after the elections on 7 November, but the strikes targeted Iran's air defense system.