STORY: U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said talks with Iran were in what he called "final stages", but again threatened to restart the conflict if he could not reach a deal with Tehran.

Iran threatened on Wednesday to spread war beyond the Middle East if the United States attacks again.

:: U.S. Central Command via X

Now, in the sixth week of ceasefire that paused the war on Iran launched by the U.S. and Israel at the end of February, talks to end the conflict have largely stalled.

Iran submitted a new offer to the United States this week, but its public accounts of that offer repeat terms previously rejected by Trump.

:: Social media / Released February 28, 2026

They included demands for control of the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damage, lifting of sanctions, release of frozen assets and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the area.

REPORTER: ''How close were you to striking Iran. You said you were going to attack. Did you have planes in the air?''

TRUMP: ''I was an hour away." 

Trump said on Monday, and again on Tuesday, that he had come close to ordering a new bombing campaign.

But he put it off at the last minute to give more time for diplomacy.

The war in Iran has sent gasoline prices soaring and dragged down Trump's approval rating ahead of Congressional midterm elections in November.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll this week found just one in four respondents said the U.S. military action has been worth it.

But Trump on Wednesday said he didn't feel any pressure to resolve the conflict any time soon.

"I'm in no hurry. You never think, 'oh the midterms, I'm in a hurry.' I'm in no hurry."

Iran has repeatedly threatened to retaliate for any new attacks, saying it would strike countries in the Middle East that house U.S. bases. 

On Wednesday it suggested it would also hit targets further afield.

As the ceasefire drags on, Iran has largely shut the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy corridor.

The closure has caused the biggest disruption to global energy supplies in history. 

The United States responded last month with its own blockade of Iran's ports.