A senior Iranian military official has warned that renewed fighting between Iran and the United States is likely, amid growing fears that the temporary ceasefire could soon collapse. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a key figure in Iran's central military command, accused Washington of failing to adhere to commitments and described the US approach as "media-oriented" and focused on preventing oil price drops and escaping self-created predicaments.
Iran's Readiness for Conflict
Asadi stressed that Iran's armed forces are "in full readiness for any renewed adventurism and miscalculation by the United States." He claimed that the US is not committed to any promises or agreements and suggested that Iran might be better off not making a deal at all. "They've got to make a bad deal. Maybe we're better off not making a deal at all," he said.
Ceasefire Talks Stalled
The warning comes after US President Donald Trump declared he is "not satisfied" with the peace deals offered by Iran. A ceasefire was originally announced on April 8, followed by talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, but no agreement was reached. Trump later unilaterally extended the truce at Pakistan's request without setting a new deadline. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran submitted a new proposal to Pakistan on Thursday to resume negotiations, but it remains unclear whether efforts to revive talks will succeed.
Troop Withdrawal from Germany
The Middle East crisis continues to affect Europe, with Trump announcing the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany over the next 12 months. This follows a war of words with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who claimed the US is being "humiliated" by Iran and questioned US strategy. Two top US Republican lawmakers, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, expressed unease about the decision, warning it could undermine deterrence and send the wrong signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius responded by saying the withdrawal was foreseeable, while NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated the alliance is working with the US to understand the details of the decision.
Global Oil Market at Risk
The conflict is also causing chaos in the global oil market, with experts warning that the world is just four weeks away from a tipping point that could send prices soaring. Trump has told oil company executives that the Strait of Hormuz blockade could continue for months, raising fears that global stockpiles could dip below critical levels. Analysts fear stocks of crude oil, petrol, diesel, and jet fuel could hit critically low levels by the end of the month, leading to significant price increases. Frederic Lasserre, head of research at Gunvor, warned that the tipping point is clearly June, beyond which industry shutdowns and recession could occur.
Lebanon Conflict Casualties
Meanwhile, Lebanon's public health ministry reported that the death toll from Israeli attacks over two months has reached 2,659, including 41 in the last 24 hours, with 8,183 wounded since Israel renewed its attacks on March 2.
