Strikes on Iran could restart 'if they misbehave'

US President Donald Trump has said he had been told about the concept of a deal with Iran, but was waiting for the exact wording, while warning there ⁠was still the possibility of restarting strikes on the country if Iran "misbehaves".

A senior Iranian official said yesterday that an Iranian proposal so far rejected by Mr Trump would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade of Iran while leaving talks on Iran's nuclear programme for later.

When asked about Iran's proposal before boarding a flight to Miami at West Palm Beach, Florida, Mr Trump replied: "They told me about the concept of the deal.

They're going to give me the exact wording now."
He added on his social media channel that he could not imagine the proposals would be acceptable and that Iran had not paid a big enough price for what it had done.

Asked if he might restart strikes on Iran, Mr Trump replied: "I don't want to say that.

I mean, I can't tell that to a reporter.

If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we'll see.

But it's a possibility that could happen."
Watch: Trump says there is possibility US could restart strikes on Iran
Iran says it is ready for diplomacy
Mr Trump has said repeatedly that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon ‌and said on Friday he was not satisfied with the ⁠latest Iranian proposal, while Iran's foreign minister said Iran was ready for diplomacy if the US changes its approach.

Reuters and other news organisations reported over the past week that Iran was proposing to reopen the strait before nuclear issues were resolved.

The official confirmed that this new timeline had now been spelt out in a formal proposal conveyed to the United States through mediators.

Mr Trump also said on Friday that "on a human basis," he did not prefer the military course of action and told congressional leaders he did not need their permission to extend the war beyond a deadline set by law for that day because the ceasefire had "terminated" hostilities.

While ‌repeating that he is in no hurry, Mr Trump is under domestic pressure to break Iran's hold on the strait, which has choked off 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies and pushed up US gasoline prices.

Mr Trump's Republican Party faces the risk of a voter backlash over ⁠higher prices when the country votes in midterm congressional elections in November.

Iranian media said Iran's 14-point proposal included the withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran, lifting the blockade, releasing Iran’s ‌frozen assets, payment of compensation, lifting sanctions and ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, as well as a new control mechanism for the ⁠strait.

The United States and ‌ Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, but appear no closer to a deal to end a war that has caused the biggest disruption ever to global energy supplies, roiled global markets and raised worries about the possibility of a wider global economic downturn.

Iran has been blocking nearly all shipping from the Gulf apart from its own for more than two months.

Last month, the US imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ⁠ports.

Read more: Iran says 'ball in US court' - but ready for talks or war
The US has repeatedly said it will not end the war, which has led to the deaths of thousands of people, without a deal that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, the primary aim Mr Trump ⁠cited when he launched strikes in February in the midst of nuclear talks.

Iran said its nuclear programme is peaceful.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential diplomacy, the senior Iranian official said Iran believed its latest proposal to shelve nuclear talks for a later stage was a significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement.

Under the proposal, the war would end with a guarantee that Israel and the United States would not attack again.

Iran would open the strait, and the United States would lift its blockade.

Future talks would then be held on curbs to Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions, with Iran demanding the US recognise its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, even if it agrees to suspend its nuclear programme.

"Under this framework, negotiations ‌ over the more complicated nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere," the official said.

Israel issues new evacuation warnings in southern Lebanon
Israel's military has issued new evacuation warnings in southern Lebanon for villages beyond the area it occupies, despite a truce with Lebanon intended to halt fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The warning covers more than 10 villages and towns, including several in the district of Nabatieh, which lies north of the Litani River, south of which Israel has stationed troops.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency later reported a series of Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, including on towns not mentioned in the evacuation warning.

Since 17 April, a fragile ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Lebanon, which was aimed at pausing the violence between the Hezbollah militant group and Israel's military.

On Wednesday, Israel's military chief of staff Eyal Zamir had threatened to strike Hezbollah "beyond the yellow line", which marks the area of Israeli control.

"Any threat, anywhere, against our communities or our forces - including beyond the Yellow Line and north of the Litani - will be eliminated," he said during a visit to Israeli troops.

In the past week, two soldiers and an army contractor have been killed by drone attacks in the area, with dozens of soldiers wounded.

Hezbollah has recently begun using cheap drones controlled by fibre-optic cable, making them largely immune to electronic jamming, to conduct daily attacks.

These drones have a range of several dozen kilometres, which puts Israeli troops in Lebanon and communities in northern Israel under threat.

The US has called for direct peace negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, but Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on Wednesday for Israel to fully implement the ceasefire before the talks can take place.